:::.s:-j-x    .  :;:::-;;::D 


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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


A  Young  Botanist 


WILD  FLOWERS  EAST 
OF  THE  ROCKIES 


BY 

CHESTER  A.  REED,  B.  S. 


Author  of  "Land  Birds,"    "Water  Birds," 
"North  American  Birds'  Eggs,"  Etc. 


With  820   Flowers  in  Color,  painted  by 
the   Author. 


DOUBLEDAY,     PAGE     &     CO. 

NEW  YORK 

1910 


Copyrighted   19  lo 
Chas.  K.  Reed,   Worcester,   Mass 


TO 

MERTICE  ELAINE 

The  Little  "Flower  Girl"  in  the  Frontispiece 
This  Book  is  Affectionately  Inscribed 


M351781 


PREFACE 

Every  book  has  a  reason  for  its  being, — or  should 
have.  There  are  excellent  flower  books,  galore,  but 
apparently  there  is  a  break  in  the  series  into  which 
it  is  hoped  the  present  volume  will  make  a  welcome 
fit.  We  are  living  in  a  progressive  age,  an  inquisi- 
tive age,  an  age  in  which  we  want  to  know  the  names 
and  meaning  of  all  we  see  and  hear.  I  have  always 
held  that  a  well-executed  colored  picture,  as  a  means 
of  identification,  is  worth  pages  of  text.  Of  course 
the  text  is  necessary  to  call  attention  to  the  salient 
points  of  the  picture.  In  the  case  of  flowers,  birds, 
mammals,  etc.,  the  habits,  ranges,  sizes  and  other 
important  points  must  be  obtained  from  the  text,  but 
the  picture,  itself,  forms  the  basis  of  quick  and  sure 
identification. 

I  was  practically  brought  up  among  birds  and,  con- 
sequently, flowers,  because  the  two  are  inseparable 
companions  in  the  fields.  Wherever  I  wandered,  I 
had  one  eye  open  for  "new"  flowers.  Every  such 
prize  went  home  with  me;  if  not  carried  in  the  hand, 
why, — in  the  top  of  the  hat.  No  sooner  home  than 
out  came  the  old  "Gray's",  the  microscope  and  dis- 
secting points.  Sister  and  I  eagerly  weighed  the  evi- 
dence, placing  the  "find"  in  one  family  and  then  an- 
other, as  discrepancies  were  found,  until  at  last,  we 
had  it  cornered  down  to  the  family,  the  genus  and, 
finally,  the  exact  species. 

Every  new  invention  is  designed  to  accomplish*  some 
end  quicker  or  better  than  it  has  been  done  before. 


viii  Preface 

Every  step  aims  to  be  a  step  in  advance.  The  scien- 
tific botanist,  a  term  correlary  to  that  of  ''closet  Nat- 
uralist" used  in  Ornithology,  still  does,  and  always 
will,  analyze  his  flowers.  The  layman,  however,  has 
no  interest  in  whether  the  seeds  have  copious  albu- 
men, or  not,  or  in  the  number  of  cells  in  the  plant 
ovary;  he  sees  a  flower, — it  may  be  beautiful,  it  may 
be  odd  or  even  its  very  ugliness  may  attract  his  at- 
tention, but  he  wants  to  know  what  it  is.  To  such 
seekers,  and  they  include  the  majority  of  Nature  lov- 
ers, scientific  botany  is  as  a  foreign  tongue,  but  the 
popular  book  with  the  colored  pictures  furnishes  an 
open  key  to  knowledge. 

That  is  why  this  book  appears: — We  do  not  claim 
it  to  be  perfect,  for  we  know  its  shortcomings.  But, 
in  so  far  as  it  lies  in  our  power,  it  has  been  made  to 
serve  the  most  people  to  their  best  advantage,  taking 
into  consideration  the  limitations  set  upon  size  and 
upon  price. 

Flowers  vary  endlessly  in  size,  in  color  and  shape. 
Some  have  simple  stems,  others  are  very  branchy  and 
bushlike  in  appearance.  Obviously  if  we  attempted 
to  draw  the  whole  of  a  branching  plant,  reducing  it 
down  to  the  size  of  a  small  page,  the  flowers  would  be 
so  tiny  they  could  barely  .be  seen.  In  all  cases  it  has 
been  our  object  to  show  the  flower  and  that  part  ol 
the  plant  that  will  best  serve  to  identify  it.  In  nearly 
every  case  the  typical  form  of  flower  and  of  leaf  is 
shown. 

To  as  great  an  extent  as  is  practical,  all  technical 
terms  have  been  avoided.  In  order,  however,  that 
one  may  if  he  wish  learn  the  meanings  of  the  botani- 
cal, terms  that  are  in  very  common  use,  a  Glossary 
is  provided. 


Preface  ix 

The  opening  pages  touch  briefly  upon  the  subject  of 
pollenization  and  propagation  of  plants.  This  is  a 
study  in  itself  and  an  exceedingly  interesting  one. 
There  is  still  opportunity  for -a  great  deal  of  valuable 
research  in  this  line  of  study;  in  fact,  it  is  in  the  hope 
of  awakening  interest  in  this  line  that  the  many  brief 
allusions  in  the  text,  to  the  methods  of  fertilization 
are  made.  The  interdependence  existing  between  the 
plant,  the  insect  and  the  animal  world  is  amazing. 
One  will  be  astonished  at  the  truths  he  will  discover 
by  closely  watching  the  living  plants  and  their  visi- 
tors. 

The  body  of  the  book  contains  plants,  chiefly  herbs, 
found  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  that  are  conspicu- 
ous in  flower.  These  are  arranged  in  their  natural 
and  most  approved  order.  Many  attempts  have  been 
made  to  group  flowers  according  to  their  colors,  but 
there  are  so  many  colors  and  flowers  of  the  same  spe- 
cies vary  so  greatly  that  all  such  attempts  have  been 
chiefly  failures  as  far  as  assisting  easy  identification 
is  concerned. 

About  90  per  cen-t  of  the  paintings,  from  which  the 
colored  illustrations  were  made,  were  sketched  and 
colored  directly  from  freshly  collected  flowers  gath- 
ered from  Maine  to  Virginia.  I  have  been  very  great- 
ly assisted  in  the  work  by  many  friends,  and  am  es- 
pecially indebted  to  Mrs.  Ella  L.  Horr,  Custodian  at 
the  Worcester  Natural  History  Museum,  and  to  Mr. 
Herbert  D.  Braman,  Curator  in  the  Dept.  of  Mineral- 
ogy, in  the  same  Institution;  very  many  of  the  flow- 
ers figured  herein,  especially  some  of  the  rarer  varie- 
ties, were  collected  and  kindly  loaned  by  them. 

The  technical  descriptions   and  ranges   are   based 


x  Preface 

chiefly  upon  "Gray's  Manual"  and  "Britton  and 
Brown".  The  scientific  names  and  order  of  classifi- 
cation are  those  adopted  by  the  international  Botani- 
cal Congress,  the  same  as  now  incorporated  in  the 
new  seventh  edition  of  ''Gray's." 

CHESTER  A.  REED, 
Worcester,  Mass. 
March,  1910. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

'reface   VII 

Glossary  of  Botanical  Terms XIII 

Parts  of  Plants 3 

Methods  of  Reproduction 9 

Specialized    Flowers    14 

WILD  FLOWERS 17 

Key  to  Flowers  by  Color 402 

ndex   .   409 


Preface  xiii 


GLOSSARY  OF  BOTANICAL  TERMS. 

Acute — Terminating  in  a  sharp  point. 

Adventive. — Not    perfectly    naturalized. 

Alternate — Not    opposite,    but    singly      at      different 

heights  on  the  stem. 
Annual — Of  only  one  year's  duration. 
Anther — That  part  of  a  stamen  containing  pollen. 
Appressed — Lying  close   and   flat  against. 
Axil — Angle  formed  by  a  leaf  and  stem. 
Basal — Leaves    springing    from    the    stem      at      the 

ground. 

Biennial — Of  two  years  duration. 
Bilabiate — Two-lipped. 
Bract — A  small,  modified  leaf  usually  at  the  base  of 

a  flower  stem. 
Bulbous — Having  underground   leaf-buds  with   fleshy 

scales  or  coats. 

Calyx — The  outer  perianth,  or  "cup"  of  a  flower. 
Campanulate — Bell-shaped. 
Cleistogamous — Fertilized    in    the    bud,    without    the 

opening  of  the  flower. 
Composite —    A    compound    flower    head    containing 

many  tubular  or  ray  florets  seated  in  a  bracted, 

or  scaly  cup  or  involucre.     (As  daisy,  thistle,  etc.) 
Compound — Composed    of    several    similar    parts,    or 

a  leaf  made  up  of  several  leaflets. 
Cordate — Heart-shaped    with    the   point    upwards. 
Corm — The  enlarged,  solid  bulb-like  base  of  a  stem. 
Corolla — The  inner  perianth  of  a  flower,  usually  of 

petals   as  opposed  to   sepals  of  the   calyx. 
Corymb — A  flat  topped  cluster  of  flowers. 


xiv  Preface 

Cross-fertilization— -The  pollen  of  one  flower  comin 

into  contact  with  the  stigma  of  another. 
Creeping — A  stem  running  along  the  ground  and  rooi 

ing  at  intervals. 

Deciduous — 'Falling  off;    not  evergreen. 
Dentate— Toothed. 
Disc  Flowers— Tubular  florets   found  in  the  center 

of  composite  flowers. 

Entire — Smooth-edged;   no  teeth  or  divisions. 
Evergreen — Having  green  leaves  at  all  times. 
Fertile — Capable  of  producing  fruit. 
Fertilization — The  quickening  of  the  seed  in  the  flo^ 

er  ovaries  by  pollen  from  the  anthers. 
Filament. — The  thread-like  part  of  a  stamen. 
Floret — A  small  tubular  flower,  usually  one  of 

cluster. 

Glabrous — Smooth;    not    rough   or   hairy. 
Glaucus — Covered   wtih   a  whitish   bloom. 
Hirsute — Covered   wtih   rather   coarse   hairs. 
Imperfect — Flowers    with    either    stamens    or    pisti 

wanting. 
Introduced    — Brought    intentionally    from    other    re 

gions. 
Involucre — A  cup-shaped  cluster  of  bracts  surround 

ing  a  head  or  flower  cluster. 
Irregular — With  parts  unequal  in  size  or  shape. 
Lanceolate  or  lance-shaped — Much  longer  than  wide 

pointed  at  the  end  and  tapering  at  the  base. 
Leaflet — A  single  division  of  a  compound  leaf. 
Linear — Long,    narrow,    with    parallel    margins. 
Lip — Either    division    of    a    two-parted    corolla;    th( 
broadened  petal  of  an  orchid. 
Lobe — A  rounded  division  of  a  flower  or  leaf. 
Midrib — The  central  vein  of  a  leaf. 
Naturalized — Floral    immigrants    that    have    becom< 

firmly  established. 
Nerve — A   single,   unbranched   vein   or   rib. 


Preface  xv 

)blong — Longer  than  broad,  with  nearly  parallel 
sides. 

)vary — Part  of  the  pistil  containing  seeds. 

)vate — Egg-shaped,  broad  end  downwards. 

'alate — A  rounded  projection  of  the  lower  lip  clos- 
ing the  throat. 

'almate— Radially  lobed;  spreading  like  the  fingers 
of  the  hand. 

'arasitic — Stealing   nourishment  from   other   plants. 

'edicel — The  stem  of  a  single  flower. 

5eduncle — A  flower-stalk  supporting  either  a  single 
flower  or  a  cluster. 

>erennial — One  that  lasts  year   after  year. 

'erfect  Flower — One  having  both  stamens  and  pis- 
til. 

'erfoliate — Leaf  'pierced  by  the  stem. 

'erianth — The  calyx  and  corolla  of  a  flower. 

'etal — A  single  division  of  the  corolla. 

'etiole — The  stalk  of  a  leaf. 

'innate — Compound,  with  leaflets  arranged  on  each 
side  of  a  common  petiole. 

Mstil — The  ovary,  style  and  stigma  of  a  flower. 

'istillate — Female  flowers;  pistils  but  no  stamens. 

'ollen — The  life-producing  grains   in  the   anthers. 

laceme — Pediceled  flowers  growing  along  a  more 
or  less  elongated  flower  stem. 

ladiate — Growing  from  or  around  a  common  center. 

lay — The  marginal  flowers  surrounding  a  disc. 

lib — A  prominent  vein  of  a  leaf. 

loot — That  part  of  a  plant  underground. 

>cape — A  leafless  flower-stem  rising  from  the 
ground. 

epal — A  division  of  the  calyx. 

errate — Having  sharp  teeth  pointing  forward. 

essile — Without  rootstalk,  pedicel  or  petiole. 

limple — Not  compounded  or  branched. 

ipadix — A  thick,  fleshy  spike  usually  in  a  spathe. 

Spathe — A  large  bract  enclosing  flowers. 


xvi  Preface 

Spatulate — Rounded  at  the  end  and  gradually  narrow- 
ing at  the  base. 

Spike — Sessile  flowers  on  an  elongated  stem. 

Spur — A  nectar-bearing,  hollow  extension  of  some 
portion  of  a  blossom. 

Stamen — One  of  the  pollen-bearing  organs. 

Standard — The  upper,  dilated  petal  of  a  pea-like  flow- 
er. 

Stem — The  main  ascending  axis  of  a  plant. 

Sterile — Unproductive. 

Stigma — That  part  of  a  pistil  through  which  pollen 
effects  an  entrance. 

Stipsule — An  appendage,  or  bract,  at  base  of  petiole. 

Style — Connection  between  the  stigma  and  ovary. 

Tuber — A  short,  thick,  underground  root  having  num- 
erous buds  or  eyes. 
Tufted — Growing  in  clumps  or  clusters. 

Umbel — A  flower  cluster  with  pedicels  all  from  a  com- 
mon center. 

Veins. — Thread-like  branching  nerves. 
Whorl — Arrangement  in  a  circle  about  stem. 


WILD  FLOWERS 
EAST  OF  THE  ROCKIES 


Their  Construction,  their  Growth  and  their 
Manner  of  Living 


Descriptions  and  Colored  Plates  of  those 
Species  conspicuous  in  Flower 


COMPOUND-PJNNATt 
S  PAT  U  LATE. 
TUBEROUS 


PARTS   OF   PLANTS. 

Plants  vary  endlessly  in  turn  but,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  parasitic  ones,  all  have  roots. 

FORMS  OF  ROOTS. — The  form  of  root  most  often 
found  on  plants  is  the  fibrous  root,  made  up  of  numer- 
ous branching  rootlets  or  fibres.  The  thick,  fleshy, 
horizontal  root  found  on  most  perennials  is  called 
the  rootstalk;  the  plant  stem  grows  in  new  positions 
each  year,  leaving  scars  to  denote  the  locations  of 
stems  of  previous  years.  Many  grow  from  round 
Bulbs,  composed  of  over-lapping  fleshy  scales;  oth- 
ers have  solid,  fleshy  bulbs,  or  Corms.  Often  roots 
give  off  what  are  called  Stolens,  underground  running 
roots  that  at  intervals  throw  up  new  plants  and  form 
new  roots. 

FORMS  OF  STEMS. — A  Simple  stem  is  one  that 
rises  from  the  root,  with  no  branches  before  the  fltbw- 
er  or  flower-cluster  is  reached.  Stems  are  Erect 
when  they  are  stout,  stiff  or  perfectly  capable  of 
maintaining  themselves  in  an  upright  position.  They 
are  Reclining  when  they  are  too  weak  to  hold  them- 
selves erect.  They  are  Prostrate  or  Creeping  when 
they  run  along  the  ground,  rooting  at  intervals,  or 
from  angles  of  the  leaves;  such  stems  usually  turn 
up  at  the  end  or  give  off  erect  flowering  branches. 
A  plant  is  called  stemless  when  the  leaves  all  ra- 
diate from  the  base;  in  such  cases  the  stalk  bearing 
the  flowers  is  the  Scape. 

FORMS  OF  LEAVES. — Leaves  are  Linear  when 
they  are  exceedingly  narrow  compared  to  their  width, 
and  the  sides  are  practically  parallel.  They  are 


4  Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies 

Lanceolate  when  they  are  long  compared  to  the 
widtii,  are  pointed  at  the  outer  end  and  taper  towards 
the  stem  end,  the  greatest  width  coming  near  the 
stem.  Spatulale  leaves  are  rounded  or  bluntly-point- 
ed, broadest  near  the  tip  and  taper  gradually  to  the 
stem.  Leaves  are  Arrow-shaped  if  they  have  a  V- 
shaped  appendage  on  each  side  of  the  base;  if  these 
appendages  are  rounded,  the  leaves  are  called  Auri- 
citlate.  Other  common  forms  are  Heart-shaped,  Oblong, 
Oval  and  Round.  , 

Leaves  are  Entire-edged  when  they  are  neither 
toothed  nor  lobed;  they  are  Toothed  when  the  edges 
are  regularly  and  angularly  notched;  they  are  Scal- 
loped when  these  teeth  are  rounded. 

When  a  leaf  has  rounded  projections  on  its  edge, 
it  is  said  to  be  Lobed;  when  these  projections  are 
angular,  it  is  said  to  be  Incised.  A  leaf  made  up  of 
several  smaller  ones  is  Compound. 

A  leaf  is  Palmately-compounded  or  Palmately-lobed 
when  the  leaflets,  or  the  lobes,  radiate  from  a  com- 
mon center.  A  compound  leaf  is  Pinnate  when  the 
leaflets  are  regularly  arranged  on  either  side  of  a 
common  stem  or  axis;  when  each  of  these  leaflets  is 
also  pinnate,  the  entire  leaf  is  said  to  be  Bipinnate. 

A  leaf  stem  is  called  its  Petiole.  Leaves  that  have 
no  stems,  but  are  seated  directly^ipon  the  plant  stem, 
are  said  to  be  Sessile.  If  the  plant  stem  apparently 
pierces  the  leaf,  the  latter  is  Per  foil  ate.  Two  leaves 
appearing,  one  on  either  side  of  the  stem,  at  the  same 
height  are  Opposite.  If  three  or  more  leaves  appear 
about  the  stem,  at  the  same  height,  they  are  Whorled. 
Alternate  leaves  are  those  appearing  regularly  along 
the  stems  at  different  heights.  If  the  leaf  should 
clasp  the  stem  with  its  base  it  is  said  to  be  Sheathing. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  5 

Bracts  are  small  leaves  that  appear  of tenest  at  the 
junctions  of  flower  stems  with  the  stalk.  Stipules  are 
small  bracts  often  appearing  where  a  leaf  petiole 
joins  the  stem. 

FORMS  OF  FLOWERS.— A  Perfect  flower  is  one 
that  has  a  pistil  and  stamens.  The  Pistil 
is  usually  in  the  center  of  the  blossom; 
it  is  composed  of  the  Ovary,  containing 
the  seeds,  usually  located  at  the  base;  of  a  Stigma, 
for  the  reception  of  pollen,  usually  at  the  summit  of 
the  pistil;  and  of  a  Style,  this  being  the,  usually, 
slender  connecting  link  between  the  sigma  and  the 
ovary. 

Stamens  usually  radiate  from  the  base  of  the  pistil. 
At  their  ends  we  find  enlargements  or  little  cases 
called  the  Anthers;  these  contain  fine,  dust-like  parti- 
cles called  Pollen. 

A  simple,  regular,  perfect  flower  has  a  Calyx,  the 
outermost  part  of  the  floral  envelope,  divided  into 
four  or  five  parts  each  being  Sepal,  a  Corolla,  the 
inner  part  of  the  floral  envelope,  divided  into  four 
or  five  parts  called  the  Petals,  a  pistil  and  four  or  five 
stamens.  This  is  the  most  simple  form  of  flower; 
from  it  there  are  endless  variations.  Some  have  one 
of  the  petals  enlarged,  dilated,  twisted  or  broad- 
ened into  some  unusual  form  as  shown  in  the  Or- 
chids, others  have  two  or  more  of  the  petals  united 
as  in  the  Pulse  Family;  or  again,  the  sepals  and  pet- 
als may  be  uniform  in  size,  shape  and  color  as  in 
the  Lilies,  the  whole  forming  what  is  called  the 
Periantn. 

Reference  to  the  plate  of  Flower  Forms  will  give 
one  a  much  clearer  idea  than  would  text  in  regard  to 
the  outlines  of  flower  shapes  commonly  found.  A 
single  flower,  or  flower  head,  at  the  end  of  a  simple 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  7 

stem  is  called  Solitary  and  Terminal.  If  several  are 
grouped  together,  they  are  in  a  Cluster.  Clusters  or 
solitary  flowers  may  occur  at  the  ends  of  branches  or 
from  the  angle  formed  by  a  leaf  and  the  stem,  in 
which  case  they  are  said  to  be  Axillary. 

Clusters  of  flowers  assume  different  forms. 
When  the  blossoms  are  distributed  along  the  upper 
part  of  the  stem,  each  on  a  slender  pedicel  and  at 
different  heights,  they  are  in  a  Raceme,  if  they  are  so 
distributed,  but  the  flowers  are  stemless  the  forma- 
tion is  said  to  be  a  Spike.  If  the  cluster  is  rounded 
or  hemispherical,  the  flower  pedicels  all  radiating 
from  a  common  point,  it  is  said  to  be  an  Umbel.  If 
the  cluster  is  rather  flat  on  top  and  the  pedicels  meet 
the  axis  at  different  points,  it  is  a  Corymb.  If  the  end 
of  a  stem  is  enlarged,  thick  and  fleshy,  and  has  tiny 
flowers  grouped  on  its  surface,  it  is  a  Spadia.  If 
this  spadix  is  enclosed  in  a  leafy  or  fleshy  protection, 
the  latter  is  a  Spathe. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies 


METHODS  OF  REPRODUCTION  OF  PLANTS. 

All  living  creatures  are  so  constructed  as  to  be 
capable  of  reproducing  their  kind.  In  fact,  with  all 
the  lower  Orders,  that  is  the  one  object  in  their  life. 
We  have  seen  that  flowers  have  stamens  and  pistils. 
These  are  the  reproductive  organs;  the  calyx,  petals, 
nectar  and  fragrance  are  for  other  purposes  as  we 
shall  see  later. 

The  simple  pistil  is  composed  of  three  most  im- 
portant parts:  At  the  summit  is  a  stigma,  this  usual- 
ly being  sticky;  just  below  is  a  slender  tube  called 
the  style;  at  the  base,  the  pistil  is  enlarged  or  swol- 
len and  contains  the  ovules  or  undeveloped  seeds. 
The  simple  stamen  is  composed  of  a  slender  filament 
supporting  at  its  end  a  little  case  or  enlargement  con- 
taining a  fine  powder-like  substance  called  pollen. 

The  relationship  between  the  pistil  and  the  stam- 
ens was  first  discovered  by  a  botanist  named  Grew, 
in  the  17th  century.  His  discovery,  later  confirmed 
by  Linnaeus,  was  that  in  order  for  the  seed  to  be  de- 
veloped, pollen  from  the  anther  must  come  in  contact 
with  the  stigma,  thence  being  transmitted  through 
the  style  to  the  seeds  below  and  quickening  them  to 
life. 

Many  puzzling  propositions  occurred,  that  these 
scientists  were  unable  to  unravel, — as, — "if  the  stam- 
ens were  shorter  than  the  pistil,  how  could  the  pollen 
ever  reach  the  stigma?"  It  remained  for  Sprengel, 
late  in  the  18th  century  to  declare  that  pollen  was 
carried  from  the  anthers  to  the  stigma  by  insects 


10  Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies 

while  feeding  on  the  flowers.  He  also  discovered 
that  the  corolla,  often  brightly  colored,  was  for  the 
purpose  of  attracting  insects  and  the  nectar  was  for 
their  food;  fragrance  also  was  a  factor  in  drawing 
about  the  useful  insects  and,  often,  lines  on  the  cor- 
olla or  petals  directed  the  visitor  to  the  supply  of 
food  at  the  base. 

It  remained  for  the  great  Darwin  to  discover  the 
exact  truth  about  the  many  complicated  methods  of 
fertilization.  Whereas  Sprengel  had  supposed  in- 
sects simply  transferred  pollen  from  the  anther  to 
the  stigma  on  the  same  flower,  Darwin  claimed  that 
it  was  of  vital  importance  that  the  pollen  from  one 
blossom  should  be  left  at  the  stigma  of  a  different 
one,  and  that  many  flowers  were  so  constructed  that 
they  were  incapable  of  being  fertilized  by  their  own 
pollen. 

Nature's  plan  is  to  disperse  families  in  order  to  pre- 
vent interbreeding,  the  continuance  of  which  de- 
creases vitality.  All  plants  are  slowly  developing 
schemes  for  insuring  cross-fertilization.  Many  flow- 
ers now  are  self-pollenized,  but  all  first  offer  the  op- 
portunity to  insects  of  various  kinds  to  perform  that 
office  for  them,  and  flowers  so  cross-pollenized  will 
be  stronger  and  healthier  than  the  others.  In  ages 
to  come,  we  may  expect  that,  through  the  gradual 
elimination  of  the  weaker,  all  species  will  be  in- 
capable of  self-pollenization. 

Methods  for  the  preventing  of  self-pollenization  are 
numerous  and  varied.  The  simplest  is  in  having  the 
anthers  or  stigma  mature,  one  before  the  other.  Many 
ingenious  devices  locate  these  members  where  they 
may  not  come  in  contact  with  one  another,  and  so 
that  an  incoming  insect  will  first  touch  the  stigma 
and  then,  as  he  is  departing,  be  showered  with  or 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  11 

have  masses  of  pollen  attached  to  some  portion  of 
his  anatomy. 

Many  plants,  usually  annuals,  whose  roots  die  each 
year  and  that  are  dependent  entirely  upon  setting  of 
seed  for  their  existence,  have  what  are  called  cleis- 
togamous  flowers.  These  are  bud-like  flowers  that 
never  open,  but  fertilize  themselves  in  the  bud. 
These  plants  also  have  flowers  that  do  open  and  that 
try  to  woo  insect  visitors;  the  others  are  for  protec- 
tion in  case  of  several  years  shortage  of  useful  in- 
sects. 

Just  as  some  flowers  are  so  careful  in  adapting 
themselves  to  certain  useful  insects,  they  must  be 
just  as  careful  in  protecting  themselves  against  use- 
less ones.  In  general,  smooth  bodied  insects  are  of 
little  value  to  plants,  but  they  all  like  nectar.  The 
most  useless  visitors  are  crawling  ones,  especially 
ants  and  it  is  against  these  that  plants  must  erect 
their  barriers. 

The  most  frequently  used  preventative  is  a  downy 
stem.  The  small  hairs  impede  upward  progress  and 
often  exhaust  the  tiny  insects  before  they  can  reach 
the  flower;  often  the  calyx  is  sticky  and  thF  maraud- 
er finds  a  barrier  from  which  he  must  turn  or  risk 
being  caught  on  its  surface.  Some  flowers  have  their 
nectar  in  long  slender  tubes  so  that  only  moths,  but- 
terflies or  long-tongued  bees  can  reach  it.  Others 
have  the  entrance  closed  with  a  palate,  to  open  which 
the  weight  of  a  bee  on  the  platform  outside  is  neces- 
sary. Still  others,  like  the  Closed  Gentian,  are  al- 
ways closed,  but  the  petals  can  be  forced  apart  by  the 
strong  bumblebee. 

Many  flowers  are  very  highly  specialized, — adapted 
to  be  fertilized  by  but  one  species  of  insect.  This 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  13 

specialization  is  carried  to  the  highest  degree  in  the 
great  Angraecum  Orchid  of  Madagascar,  that  has  a 
nectar  tube  eleven  inches  in  length.  But  one  insect, 
a  huge  sphinx-moth,  has  a  tongue-  of  sufficient  length 
to  drain  this  nectary  and  to  this  insect  alone,  the 
plant  owes  its  existence.  It  is  related  that  Darwin, 
being  confronted  with  the  evidence  of  this  flower 
against  one  of  his  theories,  claimed  that  such  a  moth 
lived,  even  before  it  had  been  discovered. 

The  seeds  having  been  matured  must  be  dispersed. 
The  simplest  method  is  simply  allowing  them  to  drop 
to  the  ground;  a  better  one  is  to  provide  for  their 
spreading,  this  constantly  widening  the  range  of  a 
species  and  making  a  stronger  race  by  bringing  to- 
gether widely  distant  families. 

We  have  all  seen  the  rough-coated  milkweed  pods 
that  burst  open  in  the  Fall  and  release  quantities  of 
silky-winged  seeds.  This  flossy  subtance  is  not  for 
ornament;  neither  is  it  designed  to  amuse  children. 
Bach  seed  has  an  airy  parachute  that  often  carries 
it  miles  from  the  scenes  of  its  birth  before  it  finally 
comes  to  earth.  This  method  is  perhaps  the  sim- 
plest and  best  for  wide  dispersal;  many  flowers 
have  adopted  it, — thistles,  dandelions,  etc.  Others 
have  seeds  in  pods,  like  touch-me-not,  that  explode 
when  they  are  matured  and  scatter  the  seeds  over 
an  area  of  several  square  yards.  Still  another 
method  is  of  having  tiny  hooks,  like  the  seeds  of  the 
genus  Bidens,  or  in  burs,  like  the  burdock,  that  at- 
tach themselves  to  the  hair  of  passing  animals  or 
the  clothing  of  persons,  and  travel,  perhaps,  miles  be- 
fore they  are  shaken  or  brushed  off. 


14  Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies 


EXAMPLES  OF  SPECIALIZED   FLOWERS. 

By  specialized  is  meant  flowers  that  are  incapable 
of  self-pollenization. 

The  common  apple  or  pear  blossom  is  a  regular, 
simple  and  perfect  flower.  The  stamens  surround  a 
single  central  pistil;  the  anthers,  however,  mature 
before  the  stigma  develops,  so  pollen  of  a  blossom 
will  have  no  effect  should  it  fall  upon  the  stigma 
of  the  same  flowers.  It  is  not  specialized  to  the  ex- 
tent of  being  dependent  upon  a  certain  insect,  but 
welcomes  all  kinds  of  bees. 

Alighting  in  the  center  of  the  blossom,  the  bee 
commences  to  drain  the  base  of  nectar;  as  he  turns 
this  way  and  that,  in  order  to  get  all  of  it,  the  an- 
thers dust  him  well  with  pollen  and  'off  he  flies  to 
the  next  flower,  perhaps  one  in  which  the  stigma  is 
ripened;  as  he  lands  in  the  center  some  of  the 
precious  pollen  is  left  on  its  sticky  surface  and  his 
mission,  as  far  as  the  blossom  is  concerned,  is  com- 
pleted. 

Bluets,  the  tiny  blue  and  white  flowers  that  grow  so 
very  abundantly  in  dry  fields,  have  an  interesting 
lesson  to  teach  us  concerning  plant  ways.  It  is  an 
excellent  example  of  a  "dimorphic*  plant, — one  hav- 
ing two  kinds  of  flowers.  These  different  flowers  do 
not  grow  on  the  same  plant,  nor  usually  in  the  same 
clump.  The  little  pictures  on  the  plate  will  serve  to 
show  the  different  forms  of  the  flowers,  better  than 
I  can  describe  them.  Examine  one  little  clump  care- 
fully and  you  will  find  four  little  yellow  anthers  in  a 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  15 

slight  enlargement  near  the  mouth  of  the  corolla 
tube,  and  almost  blocking  it;  further  examination 
of  this  flower  will  disclose  a  short  pistil  with  a 
forked  stigma  in  the  lower  part  of  the  tube.  Care- 
fully look  over  other  clumps  and  you  find  some  in 
which  the  divided  stigma  will  appear  at  the  throat, 
in  place  of  the  Anthers  found  in  the  first  instance. 
You  will  also  notice  that  the  corolla  tube,  in  this  last 
instance,  contracts  a  little  just  above  the  base;  just 
above  this  contraction  we  will  find  the  four  anthers. 

The  anthers  and  stigma  in  each  flower  mature  at 
the  same  time,  yet  the  flower  cannot  fertilize  itself; 
the  pollen  grains  of  anthers  at  the  top  of  the  tube, 
are  larger  than  those  in  anthers  located  near  the 
base.  The  pollen  from  the  high  anthers  will  not 
quicken  the  seed  of  a  low  pistil,  neither  will  that  of 
a  low  anther  accomplish  this  result  with  a  high  pil- 
til. 

Thus  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  life-giving 
germs  be  carried  not  only  from  one  flower  to  another, 
but  usually  from  one  clump  to  another.  Bees  and 
small  butterflies  commonly  visit  bluets,  the  bees, 
with  their  larger  tongues,  being  the  most  service- 
able; as  he  sips  the  nectar  from  the  cup,  if  a  high- 
anthered  one,  he  gets  pollen  on  his  tongue  near  the 
face;  if  a  low-anthered  flower,  the  pollen  is  attached 
near  the  tip  of  the  tongue.  In  either  case  it  will  be 
left  at  the  door  of  the  first  flower  he  visits  of  the  op- 
posite kind. 

Nearly  any  flower  that  we  may  chance  to  pick 
will  have  its  story  to  tell  to  the  sharp-eyed, — more 
interesting  than  fiction  can  relate,  because  they  are 
truths.  We  may  learn  how  the  Mountain  Laurel  has 
its  pollen  on  tiny  springs  waiting  to  clap  it  at  the 


16  Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies 

proper  moment  on  the  body  of  a  visiting  insect.  The 
milkweed  will  show  us  how  its  pollen  masses  are 
connected  in  pairs;  how  the  legs  of  butterflies  and 
bees  become  caught  in  the  sharp  angle  of  this  con- 
necting link;  how  the  pollen  masses  are  torn  from 
their  sheaths  and  carried  to  another  blossom,  a  re- 
verse operation  freeing  the  insect  from  the  valuable 
part  of  his  burden  and  leaving  it  at  its  proper  destin- 
ation; and,  alas,  how  many  insects,,  not  strong 
enough  to  free  themselves,  perish  in  this  trap. 

The  Orchids,  wonderful  creations,  and  the  most 
highly  specialized  of  all  our  flowers,  each  being 
adapted  almost  exclusively  to  a  certain  species  of 
insect,  will  show  us  their  ingenious  methods  of  plas- 
tering their  pollen  masses  to  the  eyes  or  the  tongues 
of  their  visitors. 

This  study  of  the  reproduction  of  plants  offers  a 
very  wide  field  for  investigation,  a  field  much  differ- 
ent from  the  old  botanist,  concerned  only  in  the  dis- 
section of  specimens.  It  calls  for  study  in  the  field, 
a  study  of  Life,  a  study  that  is  worth  while. 


WILD  FLOWERS 

East  of  the  Rockies 


COMMON  CAT-TAIL 
Typha  lati folia. 

B.     NARROW-LEAVED   CAT-TAIL. 
Typha  angustifolia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  19 

CAT-TAIL  FAMILY  (Typhaceae). 

The  members  of  this  family  are  very  abundant 
aquatic  herbs  with  perennial  roots.  Sometimes  we 
find  them  in  groups  of  only  two  or  three  plants,  and 
again  acres  of  marsh  may  be  covered  with  wav- 
ing green  leaves.  We  have  two  species  with  differ- 
ences as  noted  below.  Both  have  staminate  yellow 
flowers  in  a  spike  above  the  pistillate  brown  ones; 
the  former  soon  fall  off  or  blow  away,  while  the 
latter  develop  into  the  large,  familiar,  brown  cat- 
tail that  is  often  used  for  decorative  purposes.  These 
plants  are  self  fertilized  by  the  pollen  from  the  stam- 
inate flowers  falling  upon  the  stigmas  of  the  pistil- 
late ones  below. 

Tracts  of  cat-tail  marshes  usually  furnish  homes 
for  various  species  of  birds.  The  Marsh  Wren  at- 
taches its  handsome  globular  nest  to  the  rushes  a 
few  feet  above  water;  Least  Bitterns  fasten  their 
rude  platforms  also  in  the  leaves,  while  rails,  coots 
and  grebes  find  appropriate  places  among  the  roots 
on  the  ground,  at  the  waters  edge  or  even  floating 
upon  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  two  species  of 
Cat-tails  that  we  have,  differ  as  follows: 

COMMON  CAT-TAIL  (Typha  latifolia)  has  yellow- 
ish staminate  flowers  encircling  the  upper  end  of  the 
flower  stalk,  and  immediately  below  is  a  long  cylin- 
drical mass  of  brownish  pistillate  ones.  The  pollen 
grains  are  arranged  in  fours.  Leaves  three  to  eight 
feet  long,  sheathing  at  the  base.  Found  in  marshes 
throughout  the  United  States  and  southern  Canada, 
flowering  in  June  and  July. 

NARROW-LEAVED  CAT-TAIL  (Typha  angusti- 
folia)  has  narrower  leaves,  averaging  less  than  %  in. 
broad.  The  two  kinds  of  flowers  are  separated  by  a 
bare  space  of  stalk  and  the  pollen  grains  are  simple. 
This  species  is  locally  found  from  Me.  to  Mich,  south- 
wards, chiefly  near  the  coast. 


A.     GREAT  BUR-REED. 

Sparganium  eurycarpum. 

B.     BRANCHING  BUR-REED. 

Sparganium  androcladum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  21 

BUR  REED  FAMILY  (Sparganiaceae). 

The  Bur  Reeds  are  marsh  inhabiting  plants, 
some  growing  along  the  muddy  shores  of  ponds  or 
streams,  while  other  species  are  strictly  aquatic, 
growing  in  the  water  with  floating  leaves.  Like  the 
Cat-tails  they  are  not  in  the  least  dependent  upon  in- 
sects for  fertilization.  The  two  kinds  of  flowers, 
staminate  and  pistillate  are  always  in  separate  spheri- 
cal clusters,  usually  alternately  arranged  along 
the  stem.  While  the  upper  flowers  are  developing, 
the  middle  ones  are  in  full  bloom  and  the  lower  ones 
have  been  transformed  into  spherical  prickly  fruit. 
Several  varieties  of  Bur  Reed  are  recognized,  the 
ones  here  mentioned  being  the  most  common  and  the 
most  characteristic. 

GREAT  BUR-REED  (Sparganium  eurycarpum)  is 
stout  and  erect,  two  to  three  feet  in  height.  The 
mature  heads,  or  fruit,  are  about  one  inch  across; 
composed  of  wedge-shaped  nutlets  arranged  in  the 
form  of  a  sphere,  giving  the  outside  a  corrugated 
appearance  similiar  to  the  surface  of  a  pineapple. 
The  basal  leaves  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Cat-tail 
and  clasp  the  stems  at  their  bases.  These  plants 
are  found  in  the  whole  of  the  U.  S.  and  southern 
Canada,  flowering  from  June  to  August. 

SMALL  BUR  REED  (S.  simplex)  is  smaller  in 
every  respect;  leaves  shorter  and  narrower  and  the 
greenish  fruit  head  less  than  3-4  in.  in  diameter; 
the  nutlets  are  very  sharply  pointed.  This  species 
is  found  in  northern  U.  S.  and  southern  Canada. 

BRANCHING  BUR  REED  (S.  androcladum)  throws 
off  several  weak  flower-bearing  branches  from  the 
angles  of  the  upper  leaves. 

LEAST  BUR  REED  (S.  minimum)  is  slender  and 
ten  to  eighteen  inches  high;  leaves  grass-like,  float- 
ing on  the  water;  northern  U.  S.  and  Canada. 


A.      BROAD-LEAVED  ARROW-HEAD. 

Sagittaria  latifolia. 

B.     NARROW-LEAVED  ARROW-HEAD. 

Sagittaria  Engelmanniana. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  23 

WATER    PLANTAIN    FAMILY    (Alismaceae.) 

GENUS  ARROW-HEAD  (Sagittaria.)  Arrow-heads 
or  Sagittarias  are  among  our  most  beautiful  water 
plants.  The  leaves  vary  greatly  in  shape  but  are 
always  graceful  in  appearance.  All  species  have 
three  pure  white  petals  with  a  golden  center  formed 
by  the  large  anthers.  The  following  are  the  most 
distinctive  of  the  twelve  species  now  recognized  in 
Gray's  Botany.  They  usually  grow  in  the  water  but 
sometimes  on  the  muddy  shores,  and  flower  in  June 
or  July.  Except  as  noted,  these  species  are  common 
in  the  U.  S.  and  southern  Canada. 

BROAD-LEAVED  ARROW-HEAD  (Sagittaria  latifo- 
lia)  has  broad  arrow-shaped  leaves  on  long  petioles 
from  the  root.  The  3-petalled  white  flowers  grow 
in  whorls  of  three,  the  upper  ones  being  staminate 
and  the  lower  pistillate.  Seed,  winged  on  both  edges 
and  with  a  twisted  horizontal  beak.  This  species  is 
smooth  but  a  variety,  (  pubescens)  has  the  stem 
quite  wooly.  Common  in  the  whole  of  our  range. 

NARROW-LEAVED  ARROW-HEAD  (S.  Engelman- 
niana)  has  very  narrow  leaves  with  linear  sagittate 
bases.  The  seeds  are  winged  but  the  beak  points 
upwards  instead  of  being  bent  at  an  angle  as  in  the 
last. 

LANCE-LEAVED  SAGITTARIA  (S.  heterophylla) 
has  lance:shaped  leaves  with  usually  no  sagittate  ap- 
pendages to  the  bases.  The  seed  is  round,  winged  and 
with  a  vertical  beak.  This  species  is  found  from 
Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

GRASS-LEAVED  SAGITTARIA  (S.  gracillima)  has 
linear,  grass-like  leaves  and  grows  wholly  under 
water.  In  July  a  long  slender  flowering  stem  reaches 
to  the  surface  and  floats  the  small,  3-petalled  white 
flowers.  Pound  locally  in  the  East.  Used  extensive- 
ly in  aquaria  as  it  is  an  excellent  oxygen  giver. 


JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT. 

Arisaema  triphyllum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  25 

ARUM   FAMILY  (Araceae). 

This  is  quite  a  large  family  of  plants  containing 
six  genera.  All  have  acrid  or  pungent  juices;  flowers 
closely  crowded  on  a  spadix,  usually  surrounded  by 
a  spathe;  leaves  either  simple  or  compound  and  of 
various  shapes. 

Genus  (Arisaema). 

JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT  or  INDIAN  TURNIP  (Aris- 
aema triphyllum)  is  the  most  abundant  and  the  best 
known  representative  of  this  genus.  In  most  all 
moist  woods  and  often  in  unexpected  shady  nooks, 
you  will  find  Jack,  represented  by  the  spadix,  look- 
ing out  at  you  from  his  pulpit,  represented  by  the 
spathe  of  the  flower.  The  spathe  is  light  green, 
more  or  less  striped  with  brown,  especially  on  the 
inside;  the  spadix  is  also  green  and  has  the  tiny 
flowers  clustered  about  its  base.  The  flowers  are 
sometimes  of  both  kinds  on  one  plant,  but  usually 
the  stamens  will  be  found  on  one  and  the  pistils  on 
a  different  one,  thus  insuring  cross-fertilization, 
which  is  accomplished  chiefly  by  small  flies  and 
gnats.  The  inside  of  the  spathe  is  very  slippery,  as 
is  also  the  spadix,  so  that  many  insects  are  unable 
to  crawl  up  its  sides  and  perish  within.  The  large 
solid  roots  are  very  acrid  and  fiery  to  the  taste,  but 
are  said  to  have  been  relished  by  the  Indians,  al- 
though they  are  now  often  used  in  the  concoction  of 
medicines.  Usually  two,  thrice-compounded  leaves 
spread  shelteringly  over  the  flower  spathe  on  long 
stems.  Large  clusters  of  bright  berries  remain  after 
the  leaves  have  withered.  Flowers  throughout  U.  S. 
from  April  to  July. 

..GREEN  DRAGON  (Arisaema  dracontium)  has  one 
leaf  divided  into  ten  radiating  pointed  leaflets  on  a 
long  stem,  sheltering  the  flowers  clustered  at  the 
base  of  a  projecting  spathed  spadix. 


A.  WATER  ARUM. 
Calla  palustris. 

B.  GOLDEN  CLUB. 
Orontium  aquaticum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  27 

WATER  ARUM  (Calla  palustris)  is  our  only  rep- 
resentative of  its  genus.  It  is  quite  a  common  plant 
in  cool  bogs,  where  it  grows  from  six  inches  to  a 
foot  in  height.  The  root  stalks  are  perennial  and 
branch  out  through  the  soft  mud,  continually  throw- 
ing up  new  plants,  until  shallow  ponds  may  become 
completely  carpeted  with  the  beautiful  dark  green, 
heart  shaped  leaves.  The  leaves  stand  above  the 
water  on  long  petioles.  This  plant  is  distinguished 
by  a  beautiful,  waxy-white,  spreading  spathe  that  is 
often  mistaken  for  the  flower. 

The  true  flowers  are  small  and  perfect,  clustered 
at  the  end  of  a  yellow  spadix.  They  give  forth  a 
rather  disagreeable  odor  that  attracts  to  them  num- 
erous little  flies  that  assist  in  pollenization,  although 
the  plant  is  capable  of  self-fertilization.. 

Each  plant  usually  has  but  two  leaves.  The  flower- 
ing season  is  in  June;  in  August  they  have  been 
transformed  into  clusters  of  red  berries.  You  may 
find  this  plant  commonly  in  cool  bogs  from  N.  J.  and 
Mo.  northwards. 

GOLDEN  CLUB  (Orontium  aquaticum)  is  also  our 
only  member  of  its  genus.  As  you  will  see  by  the  op- 
posite picture,  there  is  no  protective  spathe  for  the 
golden  floral  club,  yet  it  flourishes  equally  as  well 
as  its  more  fortunate  relatives. 

The  florets  are  complete,  having  six  sepals  and 
stamens;  they  are  set  closely  on  the  swollen  spadix 
and  attract  many  flies  and  even  water  snails  that 
cross-fertilize  them  simply  by  crawling  over  the  clubs. 

While  there  is  no  apparent  spathe  about  the  flower 
spike,  it  appears  a  little  lower  on  the  stem  as  a  leaf- 
like,  sheath.  The  leaves  of  the  Golden  Club  are 
pointed  oblong  in  shape,  floating  on  the  surface  of  the 
water  by  means  of  long  stems  from  the  perennial 
rootstalk.  Flowers  in  May  from  Mass,  to  Pla.  and 
westwards. 


SKUNK   CABBAGE. 
Symplocarpus  foetidus. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  29 

Genus   (Symplocarpus). 

The  common  SKUNK  CABBAGE  (Symplocarpus 
foetid  us)  although  regarded  by  many  only  with  dis- 
gust, has  one  claim  that  cannot  be  disputed,  that  of 
being  our  first  flower  to  bloom  each  year.  It  is  not 
uncommon  to  find  them  with  the  shell-like  spathe 
above  ground  and  the  pollen  fully  ripened  even  in 
January  although  from  the  latter  part  of  February 
to  the  first  of  May  is  the  usual  flowering  season. 

While  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow,  a  tiny  awl 
point  thrusts  its  way  through  the  hard  earth  and 
slowly  enlarges  and  expands,  until,  by  the  time  the 
melting  snow  gives  us  our  first  glimpse  of  the  ground, 
we  find  the  skunk  cabbage  fully  developed  and  await- 
ing its  insect  visitors.  The  first  warm  days  bring 
forth  quantities  of  small  flies,  many  of  which  have 
simply  been  dormant  beneath  the  leaves.  These  flies 
feed  upon  decaying  .animal  matter;  they  have  no 
aesthetic  taste  and  beautiful  flowers  would  lack  the 
attractiveness  to  them  that  the  ill-scented  skunk  cab- 
bage has.  We  must  conclude  that  this  odor,  combin- 
ing that  of  the  skunk  and  of  putrid  meat  is  for  the 
purpose  of  attracting  carrion  flies  that  they  may  per- 
form the  function  of  fertilizing  the  flowers. 

The  flower  spathes  show  a  very  great  diversity  of 
coloring  according  to  their  age,  ranging  from  a  pale 
green  sparingly  streaked  with  brown  to  an  almost 
solid  purple  tone. 

The  flowers  are  small,  perfect  and  closely  crowd- 
ed on  the  thick  fleshy  spadix,  concealed  or  partially 
so  by  the  large,  thick,  purple  and  green  stained  hood; 
The  leaves  appear  after  the  flower  has  withered  or 
commenced  to  do  so;  they  are  bright  green,  large, 
cabbage-like,  and  strongly  veined;  quite  handsome, 
in  fact.  These  plants  range  from  N.  S.  to  Minn,  and 
southwards,  chiefly  in  boggy  ground. 


• 


A.  DAY-FLOWER. 
Commelina  communis. 

B.  SPIDERWORT. 
Tradescantia  virginiana. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  31 

SPIDERWORT  FAMILY   (Commelmaceae). 

A  small  family  of  herbs  containing,  in  our  range, 
about  a  dozen  species  under  two  genera. 

DAY-FLOWER  (Commelina  communis)  is  one  of  a 
very  few  of  our  native  plants  having  pure  blue  flow- 
ers. Its  common  name  is  very  appropriate  because 
each  blossom  lasts  but  a  single  day,  opening  in 
the  morning,  and  before  night,  shrinking  away  to 
a  little  mass  of  jelly.  Its  generic  name  was  given 
by  Linnaeus  in  honor  of  a  Dutch  family  of  botanists 
by  the  name  of  Commelin.  It  flowers  all  summer  and 
spreads  rapidly  by  striking  out  new  roots  from  the 
leaf  joints  on  the  reclining  stem. 

The  stem  is  rather  weak,  much  jointed  and  attains 
heights  of  one  to  two  feet.  The  leaves  are  lance- 
shaped  clasping  the  stem  at  its  joints.  The  flowers 
have  three  irregular  sepals  and  three  petals;  two 
petals  are  large,  rounded  and  blue,  while  the  third 
is  tiny  and  colorless;  three  stamens  are  sterile  and 
have  no  anthers,  while  three  others  are  fertile,  with 
orange  anthers;  the  whole  flower  peeps  out  from  a 
clasping,  cordate,  heart-shaped  leaf  or  spathe.  Pound 
from  Southern  Mass,  to  Mich,  and  southwards,  bloom- 
ing in  rich  woods  or  dooryards  from  June  to  Sept. 

SPIDERWORT;  JOB'S  TEARS  (Tradescantia  virg- 
inana),  like  the  Day  Flower,  remains  open  but  for 
part  of  a  day,  after  which  the  petals  contract  into 
glutinous  drops,  thus  giving  it  one  of  its  common 
names.  The  generic  name  was  given  in  honor  of 
John  Tradescant,  who  was  gardener  for  King  Charles 
the  First. 

The  stem  is  hairy  and  sticky;  from  one  to  two 
feet  high.  The  leaves  are  linear,  hairy  and  clasping 
at  their  bases.  Three  purple  petals,  three  brown, 
hairy  sepals  and  six  orange  tipped  stamens  compose 
the  flowers.  They  may  be  found  in  rich  soil  from 
Me.  to  Mich,  and  southwards,  flowering  from  June  to 
August. 


A.  PICKEREL-WEED. 
Pontederia  cordata. 

B.  MUD  PLANTAIN. 
Heteranthera  reniformis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  33 

PICKEREL-WEED  FAMILY    (Pontederiaceae.) 

A  small  family  of  aquatic  plants  consisting,  in 
our  range,  of  only  four  species  grouped  under  two 
genera. 

PICKEREL-WEED  (Pontederia  cordata)  is  an  ex- 
ceedingly abundant  water  plant,  growing  profusely 
in  shallow  ponds  or  along  the  edges  of  fresh  water 
streams,  and  flowering  from  June  to  Aug.  Its  name 
is  derived  from  the  habits  of  pickerel  in  concealing 
themselves  beneath  its  leaves. 

The  flowers  grow  on  a  spike  that  proceeds  from 
a  small,  green,  leaf -like  spathe;  the  3  upper  divisions 
of  the  6-parted  perianth  are  partially  united,  but  the 
3  lower  ones  are  spreading;  in  color  they  are  a  light 
violet  blue,  with  two  yellow  spots  at  the  base  of  the 
upper  united  parts.  Each  flower  lasts  but  a  single 
day,  but  new  ones  continually  appear  on  the  length- 
ening stalk  so  that  continual  bloom  exists  through- 
out the  summer.  A  single  heart-shaped,  cordate 
leaf  clasps  the  stem  about  midway,  while  others  on 
long  petioles  grow  from  the  rootstalk.  They  are 
blunt  tipped,  deep  glossy  green,  and  stand  above  the 
surface  of  the  water.  Commonly  found  from  N.  S. 
to  Manitoba  and  southwards. 

MUD    PLANTAIN     (Heteranthera    reniformis)    has 

a  slender,  few-flowered  spike  proceeding  from  a 
small  sheath-like  spathe.  The  perianth  is  blue  and 
regularly  6-parted.  The  three  stamens  are  unequal, 
two  being  tipped  with  yellow  anthers  and  the  third 
with  a  greenish  one.  The  leaves  are  round-lobed, 
kidney-shaped,  floating  on  long  stalks  from  the  root. 
Found  from  Ct.  to  Neb.  and  southwards. 

H.  dubia  has  a  single  yellow  flower  with  equal 
stamens  and  grass-like  leaves.  It  is  found  through- 
out the  United  States  and  southern  Canada. 

3 


A.  BELLWORT. 
Uvularia  perfoliata. 

B.  WILD  OATS. 
Oakesia  sessi folia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  35 

LILY  FAMILY  (Liliaceae). 

This  is  an  exceedingly  large  family  containing 
more  than  80  species  in  our  range,  divided  into  33 
genera  and  13**  different  tribes.  Many  of  these  rank 
as  among  our  most  beautiful  flowers.  They  usually 
agree  in  having  a  6-parted  perianth  and  6  Stamens. 

BELLWORT  (Uvularia  perfoliata)  is  common  in 
rich  woods.  The  stem,  that  reaches  a  length  of  6  to 
18  in.,  rises  from  a  short  rootstalk;  it  has  scale-like 
bracts  near  the  base  and  forks  toward  the  top.  A 
single,  straw-colored  flower  is  pendent  from  the  end 
of  each  drooping  branch;  it  is  long,  bell-shaped  and 
has  six  narrow  divisions  and  six  stamens  much 
shorter  than  the  perianth  and  shorter  than  the 
style.  The  leaves  are  light  green,  lance-shaped  and 
pierced  by  the  stem;  usually  three  below  the  fork  in 
the  stem.  The  flowers  are  slightly  fragrant  and  so 
concealed  by  their  drooping  position  as  to  be  invis- 
ible from  above.  They  blossom  in  May  and  June; 
found  throughout  the  U.  S. 

LARGE-FLOWERED  BELLWORT  (U.  grandiflora) 
has  larger  flowers;  stamens  longer  than  the  style 
and  but  one  leaf  below  the  fork  in  the  stem.  It  is 
found  from  N.  H.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

OAKESIA;  WILD  OATS  (Oakesia  sessifolia)  has 
an  angular  stem  from  6  to  14  in.  long.  The  ovate-lance- 
olate leaves  are  seated  on  the  stem  and  not  pierced 
by  it.  One  or  two  flowers  are  suspended  opposite  the 
leaves  near  the  end  of  the  stems;  they  are  similar 
in  size  and  coloring  to  those  of  Bellwort  but  the  in- 
terior is  smooth  while  the  latter  has  rough  ridges. 
This  species  is  common  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  south- 
wards. 

O.  puberula  is  slightly  downy.  The  leaves  are 
bright  green  with  no  glaucus  effect.  It  is  found  in 
the  pine  barrens  from  N.  J.  to  S.  Car. 


A.  WILD  LEEK. 
Allium  tricoccum. 

B.  WILD  Garlic. 
Allium  canadense. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  37 

ONION;    GARLIC    Genus    (Allium). 

The  various  species  belonging  to  this  genus  are 
very  strongly  scented,  pugent  herbs  growing  from  a 
coated  bulb.  The  flowers  grow  in  an  umbel  at  the 
top  of  a  long  scape  that  is  sheathed  towards  the  base, 
by  the  leaves.  The  Wild  Leek  is  peculiar  in  that  the 
long,  broad  leaves  usually  wither  away  before  the 
flowers  appear.  The  six-parted  flowers,  that  com- 
prise the  cluster,  are  rich  in  honey  and  are  frequent- 
ed by  various  species  of  the  smaller  bees.  This  spe- 
cies is  found  in  rich  woodland  while  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  genus  inhabit  moist  fields  or  marshes. 

WILD  LEEK;  WILD  ONION  (Allium  tricoccum)  is 
a  woodland  plant  blooming  in  May  and  June.  The 
flowers  are  in  an  umbel  at  the  top  of  a  scape  6  to  20 
in.  high.  The  flower  perianth  is  divided  into  six 
greenish-white  sepals.  The  leaves  are  oblong-lance- 
shaped,  pointed  at  both  ends,  on  long  petioles  from 
the  bulbous  root,  but  usually  withering  before  the 
flowers  appear.  Found  from  N.  B.  to  Minn,  and 
southwards. 

A.  cernuum  has  fewer,  purplish  flowers  nodding  in 
a  loose  umbel  at  the  top  of  a  longer  scape.  The 
leaves  are  linear.  It  is  found  from  N.  Y.  to  Mich,  and 
southwards. 

WILD  GARLIC  (Allium  canadense)  has  few  pur- 
plish, 6-parted  flowers  on  slender  pedicels  from  a 
cluster  of  bulblets  at  the  top  of  a  scape  10  to  24  in. 
high.  The  leaves  are  grass-like,  sheathing  the  stem 
above  the  fibrous  bulb.  Flowers  in  May  and  June  in 
moist  meadows,  from  N.  B".  to  Mich,  and  southwards. 

FIELD  GARLIC  (A.  vlneale)  (European)  is  very 
similar  to  the  last  species;  the  leaves  are  linear  and 
round  in  cross  section,  sheathing  the  stem  below  the 
middle.  Flowering  commonly  in  wet  meadows  dur- 
ing June;  Mass,  to  Mo.  and  Va. 


HEM! 


DAY  LILY. 
Hemerocallis  fulva. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  39 

DAY  LILY  (Hemerocallis  fulva)  (EUROPEAN) 
will,  we  think,  prove  a  welcome  addition  to  our  flora. 
It  is  now  locally  abundant  in  R.  I.,  Conn.,  and  N.  Y. 
It  flourishes  best  near  salt  water  and  spreads  rapidly 
by  means  of  its  running  roots  as  well  as  by  seed. 
The  flower  stalk  is  tall,  2  to  5  feet,  and  at  its  summit 
bears  eight  or  nine  buds  which  open  one  or  two  a 
day  into  large  showy  flowers. 

The  perianth  is  funnel-form,  with  six  spreading 
orange  limbs  and  six  long  stamens  with  large  brown 
anthers.  The  blossoms  appear  in  July  and  August, 
each  remaining  open  for  but  a  single  day;  this 
habit  makes  them  very  popular  for  vase  flowers  as 
the  number  of  buds  on  each  stalk  insures  fresh 
flowers  every  day  for  a  week  or  more.  The  leaves 
are  long  and  linear,  similar  to  those  of  the  Cat-tail, 
appearing  from  a  fleshy  perennial  rootstalk  at  the 
base  of  the  tall  flower  scape. 

In  the  absence  of  any  odor,  the  beautiful  flower  cup 
serves  to  attract  the  bees  that  are  necessary  for  the 
setting  of  its  seed. 

Another  species  the  YELLOW  DAY  LILY  (H. 
Flava)  has  also  escaped  from  cultivation,  but  is  not 
nearly  as  common  as  the  above.  The  flowers  are 
bright  yellow  and  the  leaves  a  lighter  shade  of 
green;  the  blossoms  are  also  fragrant. 

WILD  HYACINTH!  EASTERN  CAMASS  (Cam- 
assia  esculenta)  has  small  blue  flowers  in  a  simple 
raceme  at  the  top  of  a  scape  from  6  to  24  inches  high; 
the  flowers  appear  on  short  pedicels  and  are  bracted, 
the  bracts  being  longer  than  the  pedicels. 

The  six  divisions  of  the  perianth  are  wide  spread; 
both  the  stamens  and  the  style  are  extremely  slen- 
der. The  scape  and  the  linear,  keeled  leaves  both 
rise  from  a  coated  bulb.  This  species  is  found  grow- 
ing in  rich  ground  from  Pa.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 


RED  WOOD  LILY. 
Lilium  philadelphicum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  41 

LILIES;    Genus   (Lilium). 

All  the  members  of  this  genus  are  among  our  most 
beautiful  flowers.  In  our  range  it  includes  eight  spe- 
cies, of  which  seven  are  natives.  The  two  species 
of  Red  Lily  can  readily  be  recognized  because  their 
perianth,  or  flower  funnel,  always  opens  upwards; 
the  divisions  of  these  perianths  at  their  bases  are 
very  slender  and  stem-like  in  contrast  with  the  fol- 
lowing species  whose  divisions  are  united  in  a  tube 
at  the  base.  Its  name  is  rather  misleading  for,  while 
it  is  sometimes  found  in  woods,  they  will  be  found 
blooming  most  profusely  in  sandy  or  brush  covered 
land.  One  of  the  prettiest  sights  of  which  I  know 
may  be  seen  during  the  flowering  season  on  the  east- 
ern end  of  the  island  of  Martha's  Vineyard  on  the 
cliffs  known  as  Gay  Head;  as  a  rule  each  stalk  there 
bears  but  a  single  flower  at  its  summit.  This  also  is 
true  of  the  Southern  Red  Lily  that  is  abundant  on 
some  of  the  sandy  pine  barrens  of  the  southern 
states. 

WOOD  LILY;  WILD  ORANGE-RED  LILY  (Lilium 
philadelphicum)  has  a  leafy  stem  1  to  3  feet  high,  at 
its  summit  bearing  one  to  four  erect  4not  pendulous) 
flowers;  the  divisions  of  the  perianth  are  deep  or- 
ange-red, lightening  in  color  at  the  stem-like  bases 
and  profusely  spotted  with  dark  brown;  the  outside 
of  the  perianth  is  dull  whitish-green.  The  leaves  are 
lanceolate,  sharply  pointed  at  each  end  and  whorled 
about  the  stem  in  groups  of  from  three  to  seven. 
Blooms  in  July  and  August  in  sandy  soil  from  N.  E. 
to  Mich,  and  southwards. 

SOUTHERN  RED  LILY  (L.  Catesbaei)  has  a 
single  bright  scarlet,  bell-shaped,  upright  blossom, 
spotted  within  with  purple  and  yellow.  The  leaves 
are  narrow  and  scattered  along  the  stalk.  Found 
from  N.  C.  to  Mo.  and  southwards. 


TURK'S-CAP  LILY. 
Lilium  superbum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  43 

TURK'S-CAP  LILY  (Lilium  superbum)  is  a 
most  beautiful  flower;  it  is  very  appropriately  speci- 
fically called  superbum.  It  is  prolific  in  bloom  almost 
beyond  belief.  One  has  to  see  the  tall,  stately,  leafy 
stalk,  surrounded  by  a  drooping  cluster  containing 
from  thirty  to  forty  brilliant  orange  flowers,  in  order 
to  realize  the  impressiveness  of  this  flower  at  its 
best.  The  bright  sepals  are  always  reflexed,  some- 
times so  much  sb  that  they  remind  one  of  a  coiled 
spring.  These  lilies  apparently  know  their  own  beau- 
ty for,  be  the  surrounding  foliage  high  or  low,  they 
will  rear  their  flowering  heads  above  it.  They  are 
cross-fertilized  chiefly  by  bees  and  some  of  the  larger 
butterflies.  One  has  but  to  touch  the  large  pendant 
anthers  to  get  a  practical  demonstration  of  how  the 
pollen  is  attached  to  the  body  of  a  bee  and  carried 
to  another  flower,  there  to  be  deposited  on  the  sticky 
stigma  of  the  mature  style.  Naturally  a  species  so 
prolific  of  flower  and  so  capable  of  being  cross-ferti- 
lized by  foreign  agency  is  in  little  danger  of  having 
its  numbers  lessened.  In  fact,  wherever  it  gets  a 
foothold  it  spreads  with  great  rapidity;  a  habit  that 
I  am  sure  is  regretted  by  none  who  admire  this  beau- 
tiful lily,  and  these  number  all  who  have  ever  had 
the  opportunity  to  see  it. 

The  flowers,  nodding  at  the  top  of  a  stem  ranging 
from  2  to  7  feet  in  height,  have  a  six  parted  perianth, 
orange-red,  thickly  spotted  with  purplish  brown;  the 
six  stamens  have  large,  long  brown  anthers  extend- 
ing far  beyond  the  reflexed  sepals.  The  lanceolate 
leaves  are  crowded  along  the  upper  stem  and  whorled 
about  its  lower  portion.  Blooms  abundantly  in  rich 
soil,  during  July  and  August,  from  N.  B.  to  Minn,  and 
southwards. 

Lilium  carolinianum  is  a  quite  similar  species  with 
broader  leaves  and  only  one  to  three  flowers.  Pound 
on  the  borders  of  mountain  woods  from  Va.  south- 
wards, 


MEADOW   LILY. 
Lilium  canadense. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  45 

FIELD,  WILD,  MEADOW,  YELLOW  or  CANADA 
LILY  (Lilium  canadense)  is  one  of  the  most  abun- 
dant of  the  genus.  Its  graceful,  bell-like  heads 
nod  in  profusion  in  all  suitable  localities  soon  after  it 
gains  a  foothold.  Imagine  a  rich  meadow,  surround- 
ed by  deep  green  woods  and  covered  with  thousands 
of  these  lilies,  their  heads  hanging  and  nodding  invit- 
ingly and  seeming  fairly  to  tinkle  in  the  bright  sun- 
light. They  are  great  favorites  with  country  chil- 
dren, by  whom  they  are  often  called  "Fairy  Caps"  or 
"Witch-caps".  They  are  also  great  favorites  with  all 
the  larger  bees  and  butterflies.  On  the  whole,  this 
flower  may  be  regarded  as  more  graceful  in  form 
than  is  the  Turk's-cap,  but  it  cannot  compare  with 
the  latter  flower  for  beauty  of  coloring.  The  regular 
whorled  leaves  and  graceful  bending  penduncles  sup- 
porting the  hanging  "bells"  make  a  conventional  de- 
sign that  often  appeals  to  the  artistic  eye. 

The  flowers  are  in  terminal  clusters  of  one  to 
twelve  blossoms,  nodding  on  long  peduncles  from 
the  summit  of  a  tall  leafy  stem;  yellowish-brown  out- 
side and  yellow  or  orange  within,  spotted  with 
brown;  sepals  spreading  and  slightly  reflexed,  but 
not  to  any  such  degree  as  those  of  the  Turks-cap. 
The  leaves  are  lanceolate,  arranged  about  the  stem 
at  intervals  in  whorls  of  three  to  eight.  Flowers 
during  June  and  July  in  moist  meadows,  from  Que- 
bec to  Minn,  and  southwards  to  Ga.  and  Mo. 

GRAY'S  LILY  (L.  Grayi)  has  one  or  two  deep 
orange-red  flowers  in  a  horizontal  position;  thickly 
spotted  within;  sepals  spreading  but  little  and  unit- 
ing in  a  larger  base  than  the  preceding.  Leaves  in 
whorls  of  three  to  eight.  Found  in  mountains  from 
Va.  to  N.  C. 

TIGER  LILY  (L.  tigrinum)  (CHINESE)  is  a  magni- 
ficent species  with  larger  and  brighter  flowers  than 
the  Turk's-cap.  Leaves  7-nerved  instead  of  three. 
An  escape  from  gardens. 


/  x 


B. 


A.      YELLOW  ADDER'S-TONGUE. 
Erythronium  americanum. 

B.      CLINTONIA. 
Clintonia  borealis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  47 

DOG-TOOTH  VIOLET;  YELLOW  ADDER'S  TON- 
GUE (Erythronium  americanum).  These  flowers  are 
familiar  and  welcome  ones  to  all  who  wander  beside 
woodland  brooks  in  the  Spring.  The  name  "Violet" 
is  of  course  a  misnomer.  It  is  often  locally  known 
at  the  "Trout  Lily"  or  the  "Pawn  Lily,"  both  of  which 
names  are  far  more  appropriate  than  those  given  it 
generally. 

The  single  flower  grows  at  the  top  of  a  scape 
from  5  to  10  in.  high;  it  is  6-parted.  with  a  lily-like 
perianth,  the  sepals  being  dull  yellowish,  spotted 
near  the  bases  with  brownish.  Two  elliptical-lance- 
olate leaves  clasp  the  scape  at  its  base,  near  the  scaly 
bulb;  they  are  pale  green,  mottled  with  purple  and 
white.  This  species  blooms  in  April  and  May  in 
moist  woods  or  swamps,  from  N.  B.  to  Minn,  and 
southwards. 

WHITE  ADDER'S  TONGUE  (E.  albidum)  is  simi- 
lar in  size  and  form  but  the  flower  that  nods  at  the 
top  of  the  scape  is  either  white  or  pale  violet.  The 
two  leaves  are  less  distinctly,  or  not  at  all,  spotted. 
This  is  found  in  the  same  range  as  the  last. 

E.  mesochoreum  has  narrower  leaves  and  pale 
violet  flowers.  Prairies  of  la.  and  Mo. 

E.  propullans  has  small  pointed  leaves  and  bright 
rose-colored  flowers.  Pound  in  Minn,  and  Ont. 

CLINTON  I A  (Clintonia  borealis)  is  named  for  and 
dedicated  to  a  former  N.  Y.  statesman,  DeWitt  Clin- 
ton. It  is  a  beautiful  species,  its  leaves  resembling 
those  of  the  Lily-of-the-Valley.  The  three  to  six 
pendulous,  bell-shaped  flowers  are  cream-colored 
within  and  greenish  outside.  Three  large,  oblong, 
pointed  leaves  clasp  the  flower  scape  at  its  base. 
The  plant  is  about  6  to  16  in.  high;  it  flowers  during 
June  in  damp  woods  from  Labrador  to  Man.  and 
southwards. 

C.  umbel lata  has  many  smaller  white  flowers,  spot- 
ted with  purple.  Mountains,  N.  Y.  to  Ga. 


FALSE  SPIKENARD. 
Smilacina  racemosa. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  49 

WILD  SPIKENARD  (Smilacina  racemosa)  is  quite 
an  imposing  plant,  with  its  long,  curving,  zig- 
zag stem,  its  many  light  green  deeply  ribbed  leaves 
and  its  feathery  terminal  flower  clusters. 

The  white  flowers  are  tiny  but  perfect,  with  a  6- 
parted  perianth,  six  slender  stamens  and  a  short, 
thick  style.  The  stem  is  rather  angular  and  attains 
a  length  of  from  1  to  3  feet;  alternating  along  it  are 
the  large,  oval,  sharply  pointed  leaves,  with  parallel 
ribs  and  wavy  edge.  The  perennial  rootstalk  is  thick 
and  fleshy.  Spikenard  is  quite  abundant  in  most 
rich,  uncleared  ground,  flowering  in  May  and  June, 
from  Me.  to  Minn,  southwards. 

FALSE  SOLOMON'S  SEAL  (Smilacina  stellata) 
bears  some  resemblance  to  the  last  species,  but  the 
flowers  are  much  larger  and  few  in  number,  usually 
only  six  or  eight  terminating  the  zigzag  stem.  The 
leaves  are  broader  at  the  bases  and  slightly  clasp  the 
stem,  whereas  those  of  the  last  species  have  very 
short  stems.  It  grows  commonly,  but  not  as  much  so 
as  the  last,  on  moist  banks  and  in  meadows,  from  Me. 
to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

ASPARAGUS       (Asparagus      officinalis)       (EURO- 
PEAN), 

This  is  the  common  garden  Asparagus  that  is  sold 
in  markets  throughout  the  land.  Few  would  think 
of  it  as  belonging  to  the  beautiful  lily  family  but  such 
is  the  case.  Each  scaly  appendage  on  the  vegetable, 
throws  off  a  branch  which  divides  and  sub-divides 
into  very  numerous  little  branchlets,  giving  the  plant 
an  exceedingly  beautiful  and  decorative  appearance. 
The  tiny  yellow  flowers  appear  in  the  axils  of  these 
branchlets  during  June.  Later,  bright  red  berries 
will  be  suspended  on  pedicels  in  place  of  the  flow- 
ers. Asparagus  is  a  common  escape  from  gardens 
and  may  be  met  with  anywhere. 

4 


A.     CANADA  MAYFLOWER. 

Maianthemum  canadense. 

B.     FALSE  SOLOMON'S  SEAL. 

Smilacina  trifolia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  51 

THREE-LEAVED  .FALSE   SOLOMON'S  .SEAL 

(Smilacina  trifolia)  is  the  smallest  member  of  the 
genus  Smilacina.  It  is  found  rather  commonly  in 
bogs  and  wet  woods.  It  is,  however,  not  nearly  as 
abundant  as  the  next  very  similar  species.  The  stem 
is  straight  and  slender,  from  2  to  6  in.  high.  It  us- 
ually has  three  leaves,  but  sometimes  two  or  even 
four;  they  are  shining  green,  oblong-pointed  and 
sheathing  at  the  base,  arranged  at  regular  intervals 
along  the  stem.  The  flowers  are  white,  few  in  num- 
ber, on  short  peduncles  in  an  open  raceme  at  the  sum- 
mit of  the  stem.  It  is  found  from  Labrador  to  Mani- 
toba and  southwards  to  N.  J.  and  Mo.,  flowering  dur- 
ing May  and  June. 

CANADA  MAYFLOWER;  FALSE  LILY-OF-THE- 
VALLEY  (Maianthemum  canadense)  is  a  very  abund- 
ant woodland  plant.  It  usually  grows  in  colonies,  thous- 
ands of  them  sometimes  carpeting  pine  woods  with 
their  dark  green  glossy  leaves.  At  a  casual  glance 
this  species  very  closely  resembles  the  last,  but  the 
distinction  is  very  marked  and  as  follows:  The  two, 
or  three,  broad,  ovate-lanceolate,  shiny  green  leaves 
are  rather  heart-shaped  at  the  base,  seated  on  the 
stem  or  very  nearly  so.  The  flower  perianth  has  on- 
ly four  divisions  whereas  that  of  the  last  species  has 
six.  After  the  flowering  season  both  of  these  plants 
have  berries;  at  first  a  creamy  white,  spotted  with 
brown,  and  later  turning  to  a  dull  ruby-red. 

It  is  unfortunate,  and  often  confusing,  that  flowers 
should  receive  the  common  names  that  they  do. 
Neither  of  these  species  in  the  least  resembles  the 
true  Solomon's  Seal  and  the  only  respect  in  which 
the  False  Lily-of-the-Valley  resembles  the  real  is  that 
it  usually  has  two  leaves.  This  last  species  has  the 
same  range  as  the  preceding. 


PURPLE   TWISTED-STALK. 
Streptopus  roseus. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  53 

PURPLE    TWISTED-STALK    (Streptopus    roseus) 

has,  as  would  be  judged  from  its  name,  a  very  angular 
or  twisted  stem.  At  each  angle  or  joint,  appears  an 
ovate-lanceolate,  cordately-ribbed,  shining  green  leaf, 
seated  on  the  stem;  those  of  this  species  are 
bright  green  on  both  sides.  From  the  axils  of  the 
terminal  leaves  appear  small  flowers  on  slender 
thread-like  peduncles;  these  flowers  are  sometimes 
single  or,  again,  in  pairs;  they  have  a  bell-shaped 
base  and  the  perianth  is  divided  into  six  lanceolate, 
spreading  dull  purple  sepals.  The  stem,  which  is 
rather  sparingly  bristly-hairy,  reaches  heights  of  1 
to  2%  feet.  This  rosy  species  blooms  in  May  and 
June  in  cold  moist  woods  from  Newfoundland  to 
Manitoba  and  southwards  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

COMMON  TWISTED-STALK  (Streptopus  amplexi- 
folius)  is  similar  but  has  greenish-white  flowers,  the 
six  sepals  of  which  are  very  strongly  reflexed.  The 
plant  is  somewhat  larger,  the  smooth  stem  being 
from  2  to  3  feet  in  length.  The  leaves  are  light, 
glossy  green  and  have  a  whitish  bloom  on  the  under 
side;  they  clasp  the  stem  with  their  bases.  The  per- 
fect flowers  are  probably  largely  fertilized  by  the 
numerous  small  bee-like  flies  that  are  usually  found 
about  them.  In  the  Fall,  the  plants  are  decorated 
with  bright  red  berries  in  place  of  the  blossoms. 
Birds  are  fond  of  these  berries  and,  by  scattering  the 
seeds  contained  therein  far  and  wide,  often  found 
new  colonies  of  Twisted-stalks.  The  common  spe- 
cies is  found  throughout  northern  United  States  and 
the  southern  half  of  Canada. 


SOLOMON'S  SEAL. 
Polygonatum  biflorum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  55 

SOLOMON'S  SEAL  (Polygonatum  biflorum)  has 
small  greenish,  bell-shaped  flowers  about  one-half 
inch  in  length,  hanging  in  pairs  on  slender  peduncles 
from  the  axils  of  the  leaves.  The  stem  is  1  to  2  feet 
in  height.  The  oblong-lanceolate  leaves  alternate 
along,  and  are  partly  seated  on,  the  stem;  deep  green 
above  and  glaucus  or  whitish  below.  Very  common 
in  woods  from  N.  B.  to  Ont.  and  southwards,  flower- 
ing from  April  to  June. 

GREAT  SOLOMON'S  SEAL  (P.  commutatum)  is 
much  larger,  the  flowers  often  measuring  an  inch  in 
length,  and  from  two  to  eight  in  each  cluster  from 
the  axils  of  the  leaves.  The  stem  is  stout  and  from 
2  to  6  feet  long.  Found  from  western  N.  E.  to  Minn, 
and  southwards. 

These  plants  receive  their  names  from  the  thick, 
fleshy  and  knotted  rootstalks.  They  are  perennials 
and  each  year  throw  up  new  stalks;  after  flowering 
these  wither  away  and  leave  pronounced  scars 
on  the  roots.  These  scars  suggested  the  name  of 
Solomon's  Seal  and  the  number  of  them  will  prob- 
ably accurately  denote  the  ages  of  the  plants.  Both 
the  large  and  the  small  species  grow  in  the  same  lo- 
calities. They  can  readily  be  distinguished  by  com- 
parison, for  commutatum  is  always  larger  in  all  its 
parts;  while  it  may  be  but  a  foot  and  a  half  tall  it 
will  be  stouter  and  have  comparatively  larger  flowers 
than  its  relative.  Often  it  assumes  truly  gigantic  size 
and  may  tower  above  a  tall  man's  head. 

Viewed  from  above  the  pendant  blossoms  are  very 
inconspicuous,  but  if  we  look  beneath  the  spreading 
leaves  a  row  of  flowers  will  be  seen  drooping  from 
the  axils  of  most  of  the  leaves,  in  pairs  on  the  spe- 
cies biflorum,  but  usually  more  on  the  larger  species. 
Again  the  large  variety  is  always  smooth  in  all  its 
parts  while  biflorum  is  usually  downy  or  hairy.  In 
the  Fall  the  flowers  are  replaced  by  pairs  of  round 
bluish  black  berries. 


A.     GREEN   BRIER. 

Smilax  rotundifolia. 

B.     LILY-OF-THE- VALLEY. 

Convallaria  majalis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  57 

LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY  (Convallaria  majalis.)  As 
a  garden  flower,  this  species  is  probably  familiar  to 
nearly  everyone.  While,  as  a  native,  it  is  only  found 
in  some  of  the  southeastern  mountain  ranges,  it  is 
sometimes  found  in  the  North  as  an  escape  from  cul- 
tivation. The  flower  we  usually  see  in  florists  or  in 
gardens  is  the  European  species  but  it  appears  to  be 
identical  with  our  native  southern  one.  It  is  a  deli- 
cately beautiful  species,  very  rich  in  fragrance  and 
very  hardy;  its  popularity  is  shown  by  the  frequency 
with  which  it  appears  in  both  poetry  and  prose.  The 
bell-shaped,  white  flowers,  with  six  short,  re-curved 
lobes,  grow  in  a  one-sided  raceme  at  the  top  of  a 
scape,  the  base  of  which  is  sheathed  by  the  two  large, 
broad,  oblong-pointed,  parallel-veined  leaves.  It  flow- 
ers in  May  and  June  in  mountains  from  Va.  to  S.  C. 

COMMON  GREEN  BRIER  (Smilax  rotundifolia)  is 
a  woody  climbing  vine  with  scattered  sharp  prickles; 
it  climbs  by  means  of  pairs  of  tendrils  from  the  axils 
of  the  leaves.  Leaves  alternating  along  the  stem; 
round-ovate,  sharply  pointed  at  the  tip  and  somewhat 
heart-shaped  at  the  base.  Flowers,  few  on 'slender 
peduncles  from  the  angles  of  the  leaves;  perianth 
bell-shaped,  with  six  short,  spreading  lobes,  pale 
greenish  in  color.  Common  in  moist  thickets  from 
N.  S.  to  Minn,  and  southwards,  flowering  in  May  and 
June. 

CARRION  FLOWER  (Smilax  herbacea)  has  a  her- 
baceous  stem  without  prickles.  The  flowers  are 
small,  light  green,  carrion-scented,  in  a  many  flower- 
ed umbel  on  a  long  petiole  from  the  angle  of  a  leaf. 
Leaves  heart-shaped  and  parallel-nerved.  Found  in 
the  same  range  and  flowers  at  the  same  time  as  the 
last.  The  genus  smilax  consists  of  many  widely  dis- 
tributed species,  usually  having  blue-black  berries  in 
the  Fall. 


INDIAN  CUCUMBER-ROOT. 
Medeola  virginiana. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  59 

INDIAN    CUCUMBER-ROOT    (Medeola  virginiana) 

is  a  common  woodland  plant,  but  the  flowers  are  so 
inconspicuous  that  they  are  often  overlooked;  in  fact 
they  are  often  nodding  below  the  upper  leaves  so  as 
to  be  invisible.  The  stem  is  tall  and  slender,  rang- 
ing from  1  to  3  feet  in  height;  it  rises  from  a  thick 
horizontal  rootstalk,  having  a  taste  similar  to  that  of 
the  cucumber.  A  whorl  of  from  five  to  nine  ovate- 
lanceolate,  pointed  leaves  is  located  midway  on  the 
stem;  at  the  top,  three  smaller  but  similarly  shaped 
leaves  radiate.  Above  these,  or  it  may  be"  below,  be- 
cause of  the  curving  pedicels,  are  three  flowers.  They 
are  pale  greenish-yellow;  the  three  sepals  and  three 
petals  composing  the  perianth  are  very  much  reflexed 
or  curled;  they  have  six  stamens  each,  and  one  style 
dividing  into  three  purplish-brown,  recurved  stigmas. 

It  is  said  that  the  Indians  formerly  used  the  roots 
for  food;  at  the  present  time  they  are  used  for  var- 
ious medicinal  preparations.  Cucumber-root  is  found 
from  N.  B.  to  Manitoba  and  southwards  to  the  Gulf, 
flowering  in  rich  woods  during  May  and  June. 

COLIC-ROOT;  STAR  GRASS  (Aletris  farinosa)  is 
a  tall,  wand-like  plant,  striking  in  appearance  even 
though  not  beautiful  in  flower.  The  scape  is  from 
2  to  3  feet  high,  terminated  with  a  small  spike-like 
raceme  of  white,  tubular  flowers.  The  perianth  is  6- 
lobed,  very  granular  and  roughened  on  the  outside  by 
thickly  set  points.  It  is  this  granular  appearance,  as 
though  the  flower  had  been  sprinkled  with  white 
meal,  that  gives  it  its  generic  name,  meaning  "a  fe- 
male slave  who  grinds  corn".  The  leaves  are  thin, 
flat  and  lanceolate,  radiating  from  the  rootstalk  at  the 
base  of  the  flower  scape.  It  is  commonly  found  from 
Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards,  flowering  in  July  and 
August. 


\ 


PURPLE  TRILLIUM;  WAKE  ROBIN. 
Trillium  erectum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  61 

Genus   (Trillium). 

Trilliums  derive  their  generic  name  from  the  fact 
that  all  their  parts  are  arranged  in  threes;  three 
leaves,  three  petals,  three  sepals  and  a  three-part- 
ed stigma.  The  common  name  of  Wake  Robin  was 
probably  early  given  because  these  flowers  appear  at 
an  early  date.  As  a  matter  of  fact  they  do  not  bloom 
until  weeks  after  the  Robins  have  returned  to  the 
Northern  States.  All  the  purple  trilliums  have  an  un- 
pleasant odor  resembling  that  of  putrid  meat;  as  they 
are  largely  dependent  for  fertilization  upon  certain 
carrion  flies,  it  is  very  probable  that  their  peculiar 
color  is  for  the  purpose  of  an  added  lure  for  these 
insects.  The  Sessile  Flowered  Trillium  has  the  parts 
of  the  stigma  so  recurved  that  they  are  very  close 
to  the  anthers  and  it  is  very  probable  that  self-ferti- 
lization takes  place.  After  the  flowering  season  an 
oval  reddish  berry  is  seen  rising  from,  or  seated 
among,  the  three  green  leaves. 

PURPLE  TRILLIUM;  BIRTHROOT;  ILL-SCENT- 
ED WAKE  ROBIN  (Trillium  erectum)  has  three  pur- 
plish-brown petals  (sometimes  these  are  pink  or  even 
white  in  color)  and  three  sepals;  six  stamens  exceed- 
ing in  length  the  stout  spreading  stigma.  Flower  sol- 
itary, raising  on  a  short  pedicel  above  the  whorl  of 
broad,  ovate,  pointed  and  short  petioled  leaves.  This 
trillium  ranges  in  height  from  6  to  15  inches.  It  flow- 
ers in  April  and  May,  in  rich  woods  from  Quebec  to 
Ont.  and  southwards. 

STEMLESS  PURPLE  TRILLIUM  (Trillium  ses- 
sile) is  very  similar,  but  the  flower  is  seated  directly 
among  the  leaves  with  no  stem,  and  the  petals  do  not 
spread  as  much.  It  is  found  from  Pa.  to  Minn,  and 
southwards. 

Trillium  viride  has  both  the  leaves  and  flowers  ses- 
sile. The  petals  of  this  species  are  greenish  and  nar- 
row. Found  from  Kas.  and  Mo.  southwards. 


A.     LARGE-FLOWERED  TRILLIUM. 

Trillium  grandiflorum. 

B.      NODDING  TRILLUM. 

Trillium  cernuum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  63 

LARGE-FLOWERED  TRILLIUM    (Trillium  grandi- 

florum)  is  the  largest  of  the  genus  in  all  respects  and 
is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  common  species. 
It  can  be  looked  for  with  expectation  of  finding  in  any 
damp,  rich  woods  during  May  or  June.  Should  a 
brook  run  through  the  woods,  you  will  be  almost  sure 
of  finding  this  or  some  other  trillium  growing  at  some 
point  along  the  banks.  (  Usually  they  grow  in  colonies 
and  it  is  an  exception  when  one  finds  a  single  plant 
without  others  being  in  sight.  The  stem  of  this  spe- 
cies is  from  10  to  18  inches  in  height;  the  waxy  white 
petals  are  from  1%  to  2  in.  in  length;  as  they  grow 
older  the  color  changes  to  a  delicate  pink  and  they 
curve  gracefully  backwards. 

The  flower  is  on  a  short  pedicel  above  the  whorl  of 
broad,ovate-pointed  and  shortly  petioled  leaves;  the 
latter  are  light  green  with  three  prominent,  parallel 
ribs.  This  species  is  found  from  Vt.  to  Minn,  and 
southwards,  to  N.  C.  and  Mo. 

NODDING  TRILLIUM  (T.  Cernuum)  is  quite  simi- 
lar to,  but  smaller  than  the  last  species.  Its  blos- 
som is  either  white  or  pink  and  is  on  a  curved  pedicel 
that  often  bends  so  as  to  place  the  flower  beneath  the 
whorl  of  leaves;  the  edges  of  the  petals  are  quite 
wavy.  This  demure,  bashful  little  trillium  is  found 
from  Newfoundland  and  Man.  South  to  Pa.  and  Mich. 

Trillium  declinatum  is  similar  to  the  Nodding  Tril- 
lium but  the  flowers  are  on  a  longer  horizontal  pedi- 
cel. It  is  found  from  Mich,  and  Minn,  south  to  Mo. 

DWARF  WHITE  or  SNOW  TRILLIUM   (T.  nivale) 

is  a  diminutive  species  with  white  flowers,  standing 
only  2  to  5  in.  high.  The  bell-shaped  flower  is  erect; 
both  the  petals  and  the  leaves  have  rounded  ends.  Pa. 
to  Minn,  and  south  to  Tenn.  and  Mo. 


PAINTED   TRILLIUM. 
Trillium  undulatum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  65 

PAINTED    TRILLIUM     (Trillium    undulatum)    has 

sharply  pointed,  wavy-edged,  waxy-white  petals  with 
crimson  V-shaped  marks  at  the  bases.  The  ovate 
leaves  are  sharply  pointed  and  petioled.  It  is  a  com- 
mon species  from  Quebec  to  Ontario  and  southwards. 

The  Trilliums  may  rank  as  among  the  few  of  our 
most  eagerly  sought  wild  flowers.  The  Arbutus,  the 
Moccasin  Flowers,  Arethusa,  Pogonia  and  Fringed 
Gentian  all  seem  to  possess  sulftle  charms  that  draw 
even  the  novice  or  those  not  at  all  interested  in 
botany  to  seek  them.  To  be  sure  they  are  all  beauti- 
ful, but  then  there  are  quantities  of  other  flowers  that 
are  beautiful  and  that  are  passed  by  without  notice 
as  we  pursue  our  search  for  these  treasures.  Most 
of  these  prizes  have  a  certain  peculiarity  of  form  or 
a  waxy-white  purity  to  the  flowers  that  appeals  to  us 
more  than  does  the  ordinary  texture  and  common- 
place appearance  of  the  general  run  of  our  beautiful 
flowers. 

The  Painted  Trillium  is  usually  regarded  as  the 
most  beautiful  of  the  genus.  Certain  it  is  that  it 
is  the  most  abundant.  It  is  more  gregarious  than  the 
others,  and  we  often  find  large  beds  of  them  with 
their  dainty,  waxy-white,  wavy-edged  flowers  swaying 
above  the  deep  green  background  formed  by  their 
broad,  whorled  leaves.  They  grow  most  profusely 
along  the  banks  of  woodland  brooks  and  in  cool, 
moist  glens.  You  will  find  them  most  abundant  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  May  soon  after  the  Wood 
Thrush,  that  frequents  the  same  locality,  makes  his 
appearance  from  the  South.  They  are  always  asso- 
ciated in  my  mind  with  these  birds  and  with  Water 
Thrushes  that  I  have  often  watched  as  they  daintily 
threaded  their  way  among  the  numerous  plant  stalks, 
entirely  concealed  above  by  the  numerous  leaves, 
and  visible  only  by  placing  the  head  close  to  the 
ground. 


A.      STAR-OF-BETHLEHEM. 
Ornithogalum  umbellatum. 

B.     ATAMASCO  LILY. 
Zephyranthes  Atamasco. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  67 

STAR-OF-BETHLEHEM  (Ornithogalum  umbellu- 
tum)  (EUROPEAN).  This  dainty  plant  is  sometimes 
met  with  near  some  farm  house,  from  the  garden  of 
which  it  may  have  escaped  years  before.  It  is  quite 
hardy  and  will  increase  rapidly  if  allowed  a  fair 
chance. 

It  receives  its  name  from  the  star-like  appearance 
of  the  white  flowers  as  they  peer  up  through  the 
meadow  grass.  The  original  home  of  this  flower  is  in 
Italy. 

The  scape,  rising  from  a  coated  bulb,  is  from  6  to 
12  in.  high;  at  the  top  is  a  loose,  terminal  cluster  of 
from  four  to  eight  blossoms.  The  perianth  is  divided 
into  six  waxy-white  sepals,  rather  greenish  on  the  out- 
side, and  with  three  to  seven  green  nerves;  six 
stamens  and-  a  three-sided  stigma;  flower  pedicels 
slender  and  bracted  at  their  junction  with  the  scape. 
The  leaves  are  long,  linear  and  channeled.  It  may  be 
found  as  an  escape,  from  Me.  to  Va. 

AMARYLLIS    FAMILY    (Amaryllidaceae). 

A  family  of  bulbous  and  scape-bearing  herbs  with 
flat,  grass-like  leaves  and  regular  six-parted  flowers. 

ATAMASCO  LILY  (Zephyranthes  Atamasco)  is  an 
exceedingly  beautiful  species  with  pure,  waxy-white 
flowers,  only  one  to  a  plant,  erect  at  the  summit  of  a 
scape  from  6  to  12  in.  high.  Perianth  funnel-form, 
with  six  spreading  lobes,  a  short  pistil  and  six  sta- 
mens with  large  yellow  anthers.  Leaves  long,  linear 
and  channeled.  Quite  common  in  moist  places  or 
swamps,  from  Del.  to  Fla.,  flowering  from  April  to 
July. 

HYMENOCALLIS  (Hymenocallis  occidentalls)  has 
large  showy,  fragrant,  white  flowers  in  an  umbel-like 
head;  perianth  broad,  funnel-form  with  a  two-notched 
edge;  3  or  4  in.  in  length.  Leaves  long  and  strap- 
shaped.  In  marshy  places  from  Mo.  and  111.  southeast 
to  Ga.  and  Ala. 


YELLOW   STAR  GRASS. 
Hypoxis  hirsuta. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  69 

YELLOW  STAR  GRASS   (Hypoxis  hirsuta)    is  the 

most  widely  distributed  of  any  of  the  members  of  the 
Amaryllis  family.  It  is  very  appropriately  named. 
From  April  until  July  and  more  sparingly  until  Sep- 
tember we  may  see  these  bright  shining  golden  stars 
peering  at  us  from  a  background  of  green  grass.  So 
closely  do  the  leaves  of  this  little  plant  correspond 
to  the  grass  leaves,  among  which  they  grow,  that 
sharp  scrutiny  is  required  to  distinguish  them. 
Usually  fields  or  open  woods  are  chosen  for  their 
habitat,  dry  places  in  which  we  may  also  find  quanti- 
ties of  Bluets  or  Innocence  and  common  Cinquefoil. 
Although  there  are  from  four  to  eight  buds  to  be 
found  near  the  summit  of  the  slender  scape,  but  one, 
or  at  most  two,  of  these  open  at  a  time.  As  they  re- 
main open  for  several  days,  a  single  plant  may  re- 
main in  bloom  for  two  or  three  weeks.  The  blossoms 
are  visited  by  several  of  the  smaller  bees  for  pollen; 
some  of  this  is  often  unwittingly  carried  to  the 
sticky  stigma  of  the  next  flower  visited  and  cross- 
fertilization  effected.  The  flowers,  in  withering, 
close  up  so  that  should  a  blossom  not  have  been  al- 
ready fertilized,  its  own  anthers  will  come  in  contact 
with  its  stigma. 

The  flowers  are  in  a  loose  umbel  at  the  top  of  a 
scape  from  3  to  8  in.  in  height;  perianth  wide  spread 
and  divided  into  six  shining,  golden-yellow  sepals, 
paler  and  slightly  greenish  on  the  outside;  the  six 
stamens  tipped  with  large  golden-orange  anthers.  The 
slender,  narrow,  grass-like  leaves  come  from  a  small 
bulb  together  with  the  flower  scape.  This  species  is 
common  from  Me.  to  Manitoba- and  southwards  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Cooperia  Drummondii  has  a  solitary  white  flower 
with  six  wide  spread  divisions  and  a  long  slender 
tube,  from  2  to  4  in.  long.  Leaves  grass-like.  Found 
on  prairies  from  Kans.  to  Texas. 


BLUE  FLAG;  IRIS. 
Iris  versicolor. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  71 

IRIS  FAMILY  (Iridaceae). 

This  family  is  composed  of  perennial  herbs  grow- 
ing in  moist  places  and  having  long  linear  or  sword- 
shaped  leaves  and  large  showy  flowers.  Iris  is  nam- 
ed from  the  Greek,  meaning  rainbow  and  it  certain- 
ly is  no  misnomer  as  applied  to  the  Blue  Flag  or  Iris 
which  is  the  most  common  of  the  genus.  Small  in- 
deed is  the  pond-hole  that  somewhere  around  its 
edge  does  not  have  a  little  colony  of  the  beautiful 
"Fleur-de-lis".  The  perpetuation  of  this  species  in 
healthy  condition  is  insured  because  of  the  formation 
of  the  flower,  which  is  such  that  self-pollenization  is 
practically  impossible.  The  stamens  are  directly  un- 
der the  strap-like  divisions  of  the  style  and  the  stig- 
ma is  on  the  upper  surface  at  the  rolled-up  tip.  Bees 
are  the  most  frequent  visitors  and  the  most  valu- 
able ones  for  the  plants. 

LARGER  BLUE  FLAG;  BLUE  IRIS;  FLEUR-DE- 
LIS  (Iris  versicolor).  Flower  solitary,  from  a  green 
spathe  at  the  end  of  a  long  peduncle;  sepals,  neither 
bearded  nor  crested,  but  broad,  violet  and  handsome- 
ly veined;  petals  erect,  flat  and  spatulate.  Leaves 
sword-shaped,  glaucus-green,  folded  into  a  flat  cluster 
at  the  base.  Very  common  from  Newfoundland  to 
Manitoba  and  southwards,  flowering  from  May  to 
July. 

SLENDER  BLUE  FLAG  (Iris  prismatica)  is  more 
slender  in  all  its  parts;  narrow  leaves,  slender  stem 
and  very  slender  pedicels.  Found  in  marshes  near 
the  coast  from  N.  B.  to  Ga. 

BLACKBERRY  LILY  (Belamcanda  chinensis)  CHI- 
NESE) has  the  sepals  and  petals  of  equal  size  and 
colored  alike;  a  golden-orange,  thickly  speckled  with 
brownish  purple.  Stem  branching  and  with  a  loose 
cluster  of  six  to  twelve  buds  or  blossoms.  Fruit  black- 
berry-like, studded  with  black  seeds.  An  escape  from 
gardens. 


A.     BLUE-EYED   GRASS. 

Sisyrinchium  angusti  folium. 

B.     CRESTED  DWARF  IRIS. 

Iris  cristata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  73 

CRESTED  DWARF  IRIS  (Iris  cristata).  Flowers 
usually  solitary,  very  delicate  in  form  and  of  a  light 
violet  color;  the  sepals  have  a  central  crested  rib  of 
a  bright  orange  color;  the  smaller  petals  are  also 
crested.  The  tube  is  long  and  thread-like.  Leaves 
lanceolate,  about  5  to  7  in.  long;  those  forming  the 
spathe  are  ovate-lanceolate.  This  attractive  little  Iris 
is  found  on  rich  wooded  hillsides  and  along  streams, 
from  Md.  and  Ind.  southwards,  flowering  in  April  and 
May. 

DWARF  IRIS  (I.  Verna)  has  linear,  grass-like  leaves 
covered  with  a  whitish  bloom.  Sepals  not  crested  but 
rather  downy  on  their  yellowish  base;  color  pale  vio- 
let or  even  white.  Pound  on  rich  wooded  hillsides 
from  Pa.  southwards. 

NORTHERN  NEMASTYLIS  (Nemastylis  acuta) 
has  a  branching  stem,  at  the  end  of  which  are  one  or 
two  flowers  growing  on  slender  pedicels  from  a  grass- 
like  spathe.  The  six  parts  of  the  blue  or  purple 
perianth  spread  from  1  to  2  inches.  It  has  long,  lin- 
ear leaves  coming  from  the  coated  bulb.  Found  on 
prairies  and  barrens  from  Ky.  to  Mo.,  southward. 

BLUE-EYED  GRASS  (Sisyrinchium  angustifolium), 
as  one  would  suspect  from  the  name,  has  grass-like 
leaves  and  flowers  that  make  one  think  of  bright  lit- 
tle blue  eyes  as  they  peep  out  of  the  meadow  grass 
in  which  you  find  them. 

The  Blue-eyed  Grasses  have  recently  been  separ- 
ated into  thirteen  species,  differing  chiefly  in  the  com- 
parative lengths  of  the  flower  spathes,  or  the  lengths 
of  the  leaves  as  compared  to  the  flower  stem.  If  one 
wishes  to  know  the  exact  specific  name  of  the  spe- 
cies he  finds,  we  refer  him  to  the  new  edition  of 
Gray's  Botany  (7th  Ed.)  The  six  divisions  of  the 
flower  are  regular,  violet,  with  >a  yellow  or  white  star- 
shaped  center;  each  sepal  is  blunt,  with  a  thorn-like 
tip.  Common  from  N.  B.  to  B.  C.  and  southwards. 


X 


YELLOW  LADY'S  SLIPPER. 
Cypripedium  parviflorum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  75 

ORCHIS   FAMILY    (Orchidaceae). 

This  is  a  large  family  composed  of  herbaceous  per- 
ennials with  tuberoid  roots  or  corms.  The  perianth 
is  composed  of  six  divisions,  the  three  outer  being 
sepals  (two  of  which  are  often  united)  and  the  three 
inner  ones  petals,  the  lower  one  of  which,  termed  the 
lip,  differs  in  form  from  the  others. 

YELLOW    LADY'S   SLIPPER    (Cypripedium    parvi- 

florum)  has  usually  one,  but  sometimes  three  flow- 
ers at  the  summit  of  a  leafy  stem  7  to  20  in.  high.  The 
inflated  lip  is  bright  yellow,  slipper-shaped  and  with 
a  rounded  open -orifice  near  the  base.  The  two  later- 
al petals  are  brownish;  exceedingly  twisted.  The 
broad,  bright  green  leaves  are  very  prominently  rib- 
bed lengthwise,  pointed  and  alternately  sheathing  the 
stem.  This  is  one  of:  the  northerly  species,  being 
found  along  the  northern  border  of  the  United  States 
and  southern  Canada.  It  grows  in  colonies  and  flow- 
ers from  May  to  July,  in  rich  woods  or  bogs. 

LARGE  YELLOW    LADY'S  SLIPPER    (C.   p.   pube- 

scens)  is  a  form  of  the  last,  averaging  larger  in  all 
its  parts.  It  is  found  in  the  same  range. 

RAM'S&  HEAD  LADY'S  SLIPPER  (Cypripedium 
arietinum)  -is  not  as  handsome  as  the  other  members 
of  this  genus,  but  it  is  the  most  rare  of  the  Lady's 
Slippers  and,  on  ; that  account,  is  very  highly  prized. 
The  three  sepals  are  separate,  the  upper  one  being 
ovate  and  pointed;  while  the  lateral  ones  are  lanceo- 
late, brownish-purple-and  very  similar  to  the  lateral 
petals;  the  swollen  lip  is  small,  little  more  than  half 
an  inch  in  length;  white,  with  crimson  veinings.  The 
three  or  four  leaves  are  elliptical  and  nearly  smooth. 
The  stem  is  from  6  to  12  inches  in  height.  This  spe- 
cies is  very  locally  distributed  in  swamps  from  Me.  to 
Manitoba,  southwards  to  Mass,  and  N.  Y. 


SHOWY  LADY'S  SLIPPER. 
Cypripedium  hirsutum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  77 

SHOWY      LADY'S     SLIPPER      (Cypripedium     hir- 

sutum)  is  a  magnificent  orchid,  -  usually  regarded  as 
the  most  beautiful  of  the  genus.  It  is  of  imposing  di- 
mensions and  has  large  fragrant  flowers.  The  leaves 
are  very  large,  closely  crowded  along  the  stem  and 
very  deeply  ribbed,  giving  the  plant,  disregarding  the 
flower,  an  appearance  very  much  like  the  beautiful 
foliage  of  the  common  False  Hellebore.  While  this 
species  is  not  rare,  it  is  quite  locally  distributed  and 
it  is  always  with  a  feeling  of  exultation  that  we  dis- 
cover a  new  colony. 

The  inflated  flower  lip  is  large  and  balloon-like, 
about  2  in.  in  length;  white,  with  crimson-magenta 
blotches  and  streaks  on  the  front  edge;  the  sepals 
are  round-ovate  and  the  petals  oblong,  both  pointed 
and  both  greenish-white  in  color.  The  leafy  stem, 
that  bears  at  its  summit  the  solitary  blossom,  is  from 
1  to  2  feet  in  height.  Pound  locally  from  Newfound- 
land to  Minn,  and  southwards  to  Ga.  and  Mo.  flower- 
ing in  rich  woods  during  June  and  July. 

Cypripedium  passerinum  is  a  smaller  species  with 
a  pale  magenta  lip,  spotted  with  deep  magenta  at  the 
base  within;  the  upper  sepal  is  yellowish  and  nearly 
round.  The  stem  is  covered  with  soft  hairs;  it  is 
about  eight  inches  in  height.  The  elliptic-lanceolate 
leaves  are  sharply  pointed.  This  species  may  be 
found  in  rich  woods  from  Mich,  and  Ontario,  west- 
wards. 

SMALL  WHITE  LADY'S  SLIPPER  (Cypripedium 
candidum).  The  flower  of  this  species  is  of  the  same 
size  and  shape  as  that  of  the  Yellow  variety,  but  the 
lip  is  pure  white  outside  and  striped  with  purple  in- 
side at  the  base;  the  two  lateral  sepals  and  the  two 
petals  are  ovate-lanceolate,  greenish,  spotted  with 
brown.  It  is  a  single  flowered  species  with  numerous 
leaves.  It  is  found  in  swamps  from  N.  Y.  and  Minn, 
southwards. 


MOCCASIN   FLOWER. 
Cypripedium  acaule. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  79 

PINK    LADY'S    SLIPPER;     MOCCASIN    FLOWER 

(Cypripedium  acaule)  has  solitary  flowers  surmount- 
ing a  scape  from  8  to  12  in.  high;  lip  large,  drooping, 
pink,  with  a  slit  in  front,  instead  of  a  circular  open- 
ing as  in  the  others.  It  frequents  dry  woods  and  may 
be  found  from  southern  Canada,  southwards. 

This  is  the  most  common  of  the  Lady's  Slippers 
and  too  in  my  mind  is  not  less  beautiful  than  any  of 
the  others.  I  rather  think  that  if  it  were  as  rare  as 
the  Ram's  Head,  it  would  be  regarded  and  prized  as 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  exquisite  flowers  that 
we  have.  Among  all  our  plant  families  none  are  so 
exclusively  adapted  to  fertilization  by  insects  as 
those  comprising  the  orchids.  The  flower  of  the  pre- 
sent species  is  a  very  ingenious  contrivance;  it  is 
fertilized  by  the  common  bumblebee.  He  knows 
there  is  plenty  of  food  in  the  interior  of  the  pink  sac. 
The  only  chance  for  entrance  is  through  the  fissure 
in  the  front;  it  requires  considerable  pressure  to 
force  his  burly  frame  through,  but  at  length  he  suc- 
ceeds and  the  aperture  closes  behind  him.  After 
eating  his  fill  he  takes  the  easiest  way  out,  towards 
the  base  where  he  can  see  two  spots  of  light.  As  he 
forces  his  way  through  the  narrow  passage  he  comes 
in  contact  with  a  sticky  stigma,  armed  with  in-curv- 
ing hairs  which  remove  any  pollen  he  may  have  on 
his  back;  as  he  continues  his  struggle  out  he  reaches 
an  anther  blocking  the  passage  and  waiting  to  clap 
its  load  of  pollen  on  his  back.  Thus  when  he 
emerges  he  is  fully  charged  with  pollen  to  deposit 
on  the  stigma  of  the  next  flower  visited.  If  you 
notice  you  will  see  that  bees  continue  feeding  on  the 
same  species  of  flowers  and  will  pass  by  those  of 
other  species.  This  habit  is  Nature's  protection 
against  leaving  the  pollen  of  one  plant  at  the  door  of 
another  entirely  different  species,  where  it  would 
do  no  good. 


A.     GREEN  WOOD  ORCHIS. 

Habenaria  tridentata. 

B.     GREEN  FRINGED  ORCHIS. 

Habenaria  virescens. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  81 

GREEN    WOOD    ORCHIS    (Habenaria    clavellata) 

has  from  three  to  sixteen  inconspicious  greenish 
flowers  in  a  loose  spike  at  the  top  of  a  stem  from 
6  to  18  in.  high;  lip  oblong  and  with  three  teeth; 
spur  long,  slender  and  curved  upwards  and  to  one 
side.  One  or  two  oblong-lanceolate  leaves  with  ob- 
tuse tips,  clasp  the  stem  near  the  base  while  several 
small  bracts  alternate  along  it.  Grows  in  bogs  from 
Newfoundland  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

GREEN-FRINGED  ORCHIS  (Habenaria  flava)  is  a 
common  green  orchis  (formerly  virescens).  The 
lower  leaves  are  oblong-lanceolate,  while  the  upper 
ones  are  linear,  diminishing  in  size  and  passing  into 
the  flower  bracts.  The  flower  lip  is  square-ended 
and  toothed;  spur  slender  and  about  the  length  of 
the  flower.  In  the  whole  U.  S.  and  southern  Canada, 
we  may  find  this  species  growing  in  bogs  or  wet 
places. 

Habenaria  bracteata  is  similar  to  flava,  but  the 
flower  bracts  are  large,  being  from  two  to  four  times 
the  length  of  the  flowers;  the  spur  is  about  half  the 
length  of  the  flower.  The  upper  leaves  are  lanceo- 
late and  pointed;  the  lower  ones  are  broader.  The 
stem  ranges  in  height  from  6  to  20  inches.  This 
species  is  also  found  in  bogs,  from  N.  S.  to  Alaska 
and  south  through  the  U.  S.. 

Habenaria  integra  is  similar  in  size  and  shape  to 
clavellata  but  the  flowers  are  a  bright  orange-yellow 
in  color;  the  lip  is  ovate,  rough  on  the  edge;  the  spur 
is  short,  tiny  and  descending.  It  grows  in  wet  pine 
barrens  from  N.  J.  and  Tenn.  south  to  Fla.  and  Tex., 
flowering  in  June. 

Habenaria  nivea  is  a  southern  species  found  along 
the  coast  from  Del.  to  Fla.  It  is  more  slender  than 
the  preceding  species.  The  leaves  are  narrow,  and 
the  numerous  flowers  are  white,  with  narrow  lips 
and  petals;  spur  short,  slender  and  ascending. 

6 


A. 


A.     YELLOW  FRINGED  ORCHIS 

Habenaria  ciliaris. 

B.     HOOKER'S  ORCHIS. 

Habenaria  Hookeri. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  S3 

YELLOW-FRINGED   ORCHIS    (Habenaria  ciliaris) 

is  an  attractive  and  rather  common  Orchis  with  a 
tall  leafy  stem  from  12  to  24  in.  high.  It  is  always 
with  a  thrill  of  exultation  that  we,  each  year,  first 
spy  the  golden  yellow  spikes  in  the  deep  recesses  of 
a  cold  bog  or  swamp.  The  open  blossoms  have  ex- 
quisitely fringed  lips,  while  the  buds  on  the  upper 
part  of  the  flower  spike  resemble  little  golden  balls. 
The  spike  is  very  closely  set  with  flowers  having 
rounded  petals,  fringed  lips  and  slender  spurs  about 
an  inch  in  length.  The  leaves  are  lanceolate,  grad- 
ualy  diminishing  in  size  as  they  approach  the  spike 
and  passing  into  the  flower  bracts.  Pound  from  Me. 
to  Mich,  and  southwards. 

YELLOW  CRESTED  ORCHIS  (H.  cristata)  has 
orange-yellow  flowers  in  a  bracted  raceme,  the  bracts 
being  of  about  the  same  length  as  the  flowers.  The 
lip  is  ovate,  copiously  fringed;  petals  oblong,  fringed 
at  the  top;  spur  short,  not  more  than  half  an  inch  in 
length.  Leaves  narrowly  lanceolate  and  growing 
smaller  as  they  approach  the  flower  spike.  This 
Orchis  flowers  during  July  and  August  in  peaty  bogs, 
from  N.  J.  to  Mo.  and  southwards. 

HOOKER'S  ORCHIS  (H.  Hookeri)  has  a  leafless 
scape  from  6  to  12  in.  high,  at  the  base  of  which  are 
two,  broad,  oval,  shining,  deep  green  leaves.  The 
ten  to  twenty  flowers  are  yellowish  green;  lip  lan- 
ceolate and  sharply  pointed,  less  than  half  an  inch 
long;  slender  spur  about  one  inch  long.  Flowers 
during  June  and  July  in  woods  from  Me.  to  M.'nn. 
and  south  to  N.  C. 

ROUND-LEAVED  ORCHIS  (H.  orbiculata)  is 
similar  to  Hookeri;  the  lip  is  oblong,  obtuse  and 
about  the  same  length  as  the  spur.  The  two  basal 
leaves  are  almost  round.  It  is  common  in  rich  woods 
from  Labrador  to  Alaska  and  southwards. 


A.     RAGGED  FRINGED  ORCHIS. 

Habenaria  lacera. 

B.     WHITE  FRINGED  ORCHIS. 

Habenaria   blephari glottis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  85 

RAGGED    FRINGED    ORCHIS    (Habenaria    lacera) 

does  not  attract  our  attention  because  of  its  beauty, 
for  its  flowers  are  rather  inconspicuous  in  color. 
They  are,  however,  remarkable  for  the  peculiarly  cut 
and  slashed  lip,  it  being  divided  apparently  with  no 
regard  for  method  or  symmetry.  The  greenish-white 
flowers  are  in  a  dense,  many-flowered  raceme  at  the 
summit  of  a  leafy  stem  from  10  to  20  inches  high. 
The  leaves  are  oblong-lanceolate,  diminishing  in  size 
to  the  flower  bracts  as  they  reach  the  raceme.  This 
species  is  not  uncommon  in  swamps  from  Newfound- 
land to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

WHITE  FRINGED  ORCHIS  (H.  blephariglottis) 
has  a  densely  flowered  raceme  or  spike  similar  to 
that  of  the  Yellow  Fringed  species,  but  the  flowers 
are  pure  white;  the  lip  is  not  divided  but  is  copiously 
fringed;  lateral  sepals  rounded,  upper  ones  elliptical 
and  concave;  spur  nearly  an  inch  long.  Leaves  lance- 
olate and  gradually  diminishing  in  size  as  they  alter- 
nate to  the  top  of  the  stem.  In  July  and  August  you 
may  find  this  species  flowering,  throughout  the 
United  States. 

Habenaria  leucophaea  is  also  a  white  fringed  Orchis. 
It  is  large,  the  stem  varying  from  1  to  3  feet  in 
height.  The  flowers  are  also  large,  the  spur  averag- 
ing 1  1-2  inches  in  length;  the  lip  is  in  three  divis- 
ions, each  of  which  is  conspicuously  fringed;  the 
lateral  and  upper  sepals  are  nearly  round  and  quite 
strongly  concaved.  The  lanceolate  leaves  are  large 
at  the  bottom  of  the  stem,  but  are  reduced  in  size 
to  the  flower  bracts  as  they  reach  the  spike.  This 
will  be  found  in  wet  meadows  and  swamps  from  N.  S. 
to  Minn,  and  southwards,  chiefly  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies,  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  flowering  in  June 
and  July. 


A.     PURPLE  FRINGED  ORCHIS. 

Habenaria  fimbriata. 

B.     SMALL  PURPLE  FRINGED  ORCHIS. 

Habenaria  peramoena. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  87 

SMALL  PURPLE  FRINGED  ORCHIS  (Habenaria 
psycodes)  has  pale  purplish  flowers  in  a  dense  cylin- 
drical spike  terminating  a  leafy  stem,  about  1  or  1  1-2 
feet  tall.  The  spreading  flower-tip  is  3-parted  and 
fringed;  sepals  rounded,  petals  spatulate  and  slight- 
ly toothed.  The  leaves  are  lanceolate  and,  like  those 
of  the  fringed  orchids,  grow  smaller  as  they  ap- 
proach the  top  of  the  stem.  Flowers  in  July  and 
August  in  wet  meadows  or  swamps,  from  Newfound- 
land to  Manitoba  and  southwards. 

LARGE  PURPLE  FRINGED  ORCHIS  (H.  fim- 
briata)  is  the  largest  and  perhaps  the  most  beautiful 
of  the  genus.  The  pale  purple  flowers  are  nearly 
twice  as  large  as  those  of  the  last  species;  the  lip  is 
more  deeply  fringed.  The  densely  flowered  spike  is 
about  two  inches  in  diameter  and  often  is  twelve 
inches  long.  The  leafy  stem  attains  heights  of  from 
1  to  5  feet.  It  is  a  magnificent  plant,  the  sight  of 
which  is  well  worth  the  inconveniences  necessary  to 
visit  its  haunts.  It  grows  in  swamps  throughout  the 
U.  S.  and  southern  Canada. 

All  the  orchids  of  this  genus  are  cross-fertilized 
through  the  agency  of  insects.  The  long  slender 
spur,  of  most  of  them,  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the 
tongues  of  sphinx  moths  and  some  of  the  butterflies. 
In  trying  to  reach  the  extreme  end  of  the  nectar  tube, 
the  moth  presses  its  face  into  the  opening.  Its  large 
eyes  come  in  contact  with  a  sticky  button  to  which 
two  pollen  masses  are  attached  by  slender  stalks. 
When  the  head  is  withdrawn  these  are  firmly  at- 
tached to  the  eyes.  When  he  reaches  the  next  flower, 
these  masses  are  in  the  correct  position  to  be  deposit- 
ed on  a  sticky  stigma,  just  where  they  belong.  While 
we  might  think  a  moth  would  be  greatly  inconvenienc- 
ed by  these  incumbrances,  we  must  remember  that 
his  eyes  are  composed  of  numerous  small  ones  so 
that  the  loss  of  sight  of  a  few  is  unnoticed. 


\ 


m 


A.     GRASS  PINK;  CALOPOGON. 
Calopogon  pulchellus. 

B.     ARETHUSA. 
Arethusa  bulbosa. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  89 

CALOPOGON;  GRASS  PINK  (Calopogon  pulchel- 
lus)  is  an  exquisite  orchid  with  a  loose  raceme  of 
four  to  twelve  delicate  pink  flowers,  at  the  top  of  a 
scape  ranging  from  6  to  15  in.  long.  The  flowers  are 
apparently  upside  down  as  the  lip  is  at  the  top;  it  is 
narrow  at  the  base  but  broadens  into  a  broad  hook- 
ed tip,  crested  on  the  under  side;  the  column,  just 
below  the  lip,  has  a  stigma  at  the  end,  and  just  below 
is  a  two  celled  antler,  each  cell  containing  two 
pollen  masses.  A  single  grasslike  leaf  sheathes  the 
flower  scape  near  its  base,  as  it  rises,  from  the  solid 
bulb.  It  grows  in  deep  swamps  and  bogs,  from  New- 
foundland to  Minn,  and  south  to  the  Gulf,  flowering 
in  June  and  July. 

ARETHUSA;  INDIAN  PINK  (Arethusa  bulbosa) 
has  a  solitary  magenta-pink  blossom  topping  its  slend- 
er scape  that  rises  from  5  to  10  in.  in  height.  The 
petals  and  sepals  are  similar  in  shape  and  in  their 
proper  positions  at  the  top  of  the  flower;  the  lip 
rises,  then  abruptly  turns  downwards,  broadens  and 
is  adorned  with  three  to  five  yellow  and  white  crests; 
margin  of  lip  wavy  and  sometimes  spotted  with  crim- 
son. A  single  linear  leaf  is  hidden  in  a  sheath  at 
the  base  of  the  scape;  it  only  protrudes  after  the 
flowering  season.  From  Newfoundland  to  Minn,  and 
south  to  Pa.  and  Mo.,  Arethusa  has  been  found  bloom- 
ing in  swamps  during  May  and  June. 

CALYPSO  (Calypso  bulbosa)  is  a  rare  and  local- 
ly distributed  orchid  found  along  the  northern  edge 
of  the  U.  S.  and  in  Canada.  It  has  a  single  magenta- 
pink  flower  at  the  top  of  a  slender  scape  4  to  8  in. 
long.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  similar  and  ascend- 
ing; the  lip  is  sac-shaped  similar  to  that  of  the  genus 
Cypripedium;  it  is  spotted  with  madder-purple  and 
has  three  rows  of  glass-like  hairs  near  its  division. 
A  single  oval,  wavy,  veiny  leaf  grows  on  a  triangular 
petiole  from  the  corm  at  the  base  of  the  scape. 


A.     SNAKE   MOUTH.;  POGONIA. 
Pogonia  ophioglossoides. 
B.     NODDING  POGONIA. 
Pogonia  trianthophora. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  91 

POGONIA;  SNAKE-MOUTH  (Pogonia  ophioglos- 
soides)  is  another  of  our  attractive  orchids  that  leads 
the  enthusiast  a  merry  chase,  often  through  miles  of 
tangled  swamp,  before  he  finally  discovers  it  in  some 
almost  impenetrable  bog.  It  has  been  my  experience 
that,  in  the  southern  parts  of  their  ranges,  all  the 
rare  orchids  are  more  easily  get-at-able  than  in  north- 
ern United  States,  perhaps  because  in  the  North  they 
are  hunted  so  persistently  and  plucked  so  freely  when 
found,  that  they  can  survive  only  in  the  most  out  of 
the  way  places. 

Snake-mouth  is  delicate,  pure  pink  in  color  and 
slightly  fragrant.  Its  pollen  is  not  in  stemmed 
masses  but  is  showered  on  the  back  of  a  visiting  in- 
sect as  he  backs  out  of  the  flower.  The  stem  is  from 
8  to  13  inches  high,  bearing  at  its  top  a  single  flower; 
sepals  and  petals  are  similar  in  shape;  the  lip  is  spat- 
ulate,  prominently  crested  with  yellow  and  white,  and 
toothed  and  lacerated.  About  midway  of  the  flower 
stem  is  a  single  oval  leaf  and  just  below  the  flower 
is  a  smaller  bract-like  one.  Pogonia  grows  in  swamps 
from  Newfoundland  to  Minn,  and  southwards  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  flowering  during  June  and  July. 

NODDING  POGONIA  (P.  trianthophora)  has  a 
leafy  stem  from  2  to  8  inches  high.  From  two  to 
eight  small  oval  leaves  alternately  clasp  the  stem; 
the  flowers,  which  number  from  one  to  six,  appear 
singly  from  the  axils  of  the  upper  leaves,  nodding  on 
slender  peduncles;  they  are  small,  magenta-pink  and 
with  ovate,  three-lobed  lips.  It  is  locally  distributed 
from  Me.  to  Wise,  and  southwards. 

Pogonia  divaricata  is  a  southern  species  found  in 
pine  barrens  from  N.  J.  to  Ga.  The  plant  stem,  clasp- 
ed by  a  single  oblong  leaf  at  its  middle,  is  8  to  20  in. 
high  and  bears  a  single  large  flower  with  ascending 
brown  sepals,  pink  petals  and  a  3-lobed  lip. 


A.     WHORLED  POGONIA. 

Pogonia  verticillata. 

B.     SHOWY  ORCHIS. 

Orchis  spectabilis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  93 

WHORLED  POGONIA  (Pogonia  verticillata)  has  a 
single  flower  on  a  long  stem,  8  to  12  in.  high;  the 
sepals  are  greenish-yellow,  long,  linear,  with  the 
edges  rolled  or  folded  together;  the  petals  are  ob- 
long-lanceolate and  purple;  the  lip  is  also  purple, 
wedged-shaped,  three-lobed  and  with  a  hairy  crest 
down  the  middle.  Five  lanceolate  and  stemless 
leaves  are  in  a  whorl  about  the  stem  just  below  the 
flower.  It  is  a  peculiar,  inconspicuous  plant  found 
locally  in  moist  woods  from  Me.  to  Wise,  and  south- 
wards. 

SHOWY  ORCHIS  (Orchis  spectabilis)  is  a  charm- 
ing early  blooming  orchid  found  in  flower  from  April 
to  June  in  moist  woods,  often  under  hemlock  trees. 
Two  broad,  ovate,  deeply  ribbed,  beautiful  green 
leaves  sheath  the  flower  scape  at  its  base.  The  four 
to  twelve  flowers  are  loosely  racemed  at  the  top  of 
the  scape  which  is  from  5  to  10  in.  high.  The  magen- 
ta-pink petals  and  sepals  are  united  to  form  a  hood; 
the  lip,  curving  abruptly  downwards,  is  broadly  ovate 
and  white;  each  flower  has  a  short  spur  and  is 
bracted. 

The  Showy  Orchis  is  our  only  true  native  Orchid. 
It  secretes  plenty  of  nectar  in  the  flower  spurs  and, 
consequently,  is  visited  by  many  insects,  most  valu- 
able of  which  are  bees.  As  she  presses  her  head 
firmly  in  the  mouth  of  the  flower  to  drain  the  bottom 
of  the  tube,  her  face  ruptures  the  thin  membrane  of 
a  pouch  containing  two  sticky  buttons  carrying  pollen 
masses.  These  become  firmly  attached  to  her  eyes; 
the  slender  stalks  holding  the  pollen  bend  forward 
bringing  it  directly  in  front  of  her  head,  and  it  is 
deposited  on  the  awaiting  stigma  of  the  next  flower 
visited;  surely  a  wonderful  way  for  Nature  to  insure 
cross  pollenization. 

This  species  is  found  throughout  the  U.  S.  Another 
with  a  single  leaf  and  with  the  flower  lip  spotted 
with  magenta  is  local  farther  north. 


RATTLESNAKE  PLANTAIN. 
Epipactis  ophioides. 
B.     LADIES  TRESSES. 
Spiranthes  cernua. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  95 

RATTLESNAKE  PLANTAIN  (Epipactis  pubescens) 

is  a  common  representative  of  a  genus  having  the 
most  beautiful  of  leaves,  all  basal  and  radiating  from 
the  fleshy,  creeping  rootstalk.  The  leaves  are  ovate, 
pointed,  dark  bluish-green,  with  five  to  seven  promi- 
nent white  nerves  and  many  reticulations  between 
them.  The  scape  is  6  to  15  in.  high  and  carries  at 
its  top  a  densely  flowered  raceme  of  small  white  flow- 
ers; lip  small  and  sac-shaped,  sepals  and  petals  unit- 
ed to  form  a  hood. 

This  Plantain  is  quite  common  and  often  grows  in 
large  beds  in  dry  woods,  especially  coniferous  ones. 
Because  of  its  beauty  and  the  fact  that  its  leaves  last 
through  the  winter,  it  is  in  demand  and  freely  used 
for  ferneries.  It  is  found  in  the  whole  of  the  U.  S., 
flowering  in  July  and  August. 

E.  repens  ophioides  has  its  flowers  in  a  loose  1-sided 
raceme.  The  leaves  have  five  white  veins  and  num- 
erous dark  cross  ones.  Has  a  more  northern  distri- 
bution than  the  last  species. 

E.  decipiens  has  densely  flowered  1-sided  racemes 
and  plain  or  faintly  marked  leaves.  It  is  found  from 
Quebec  to  the  Pacific  and  southwards. 

LADIES  TRESSES  (Spiranthes  cernua)  is  so  named 
because  of  the  braided  arrangement  of  its  flowers. 
The  leaves  are  few,  grass-like,  sheathing  the  scape 
near  its  base.  The  scape  is  6  to  15  in.  high,  has  sev- 
eral small  bracts  and  ends  in  a  2  or  3-ranked  spiral 
raceme  of  white  or  creamy  flowers;  petals  and  upper 
sepal  joined,  lateral  sepals  lanceolate;  lip  ovate-ob- 
long with  a  rough  tip.  Common  in  moist  fields  or 
woods  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

SLENDER  LADIES  TRESSES  (S.  gracilis)  is 
slender,  has  its  flowers  in  a  single-ranked  1-sided  or 
slightly  twisted  raceme;  lip  green,  with  a  white  wrin- 
kled margin.  Leaves  small,  ovate  basal.  Found  in 
dry  ground  from  N.  S.  to  Manitoba  and  southwards. 


A.      HEART-LEAVED  TWAYBLADE. 

Listera  cordata. 

B.     LARGE  CWAYBLADE. 

Liparis  liliifolia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  97 

HEART-LEAVED  TWAYBLADE  (Listera  cordata) 
belongs  to  a  genus  containing  five  species.  They  may 
readily  be  recognized  by  the  two  heart-shaped  or 
ovate  leaves  clasping  the  flower  stem,  oppositely, 
about  half  way  up.  The  flowers  are  either  madder- 
purple  as  in  the  present  species,  or  greenish. 

Like  most  of  the  Orchids,  they  are  largely  or  whol- 
ly dependent  upon  insect  aid  for  fertilization.  The 
weight,  or  shock,  of  an  alighting  insect  on  the  broad 
lip  causes  a  small  gland  within  the  flower  to  "rupture 
and  cover  the  pollen,  just  below  with  a  sticky  fluid 
that  causes  it  to  adhere  to  the  head  or  body  of  the  in- 
sect and  thus  be  transferred  to  the  next  flower. 

The  stem  of  this  species  is  from  3  to  10  in.  high. 
At  the  top  is  a  few  flowered  raceme;  the  sepals  and 
petals  are  similar  and  spreading;  the  lip  is  drooping, 
longer,  two-cleft  and  madder-purple  in  color.  This 
species  flowers  during  June  and  July  in  swampy 
woods  from  N.  J.  to  Colo,  and  northwards  to  the 
Arctic  coast. 

TWAYBLADE  (Liparis  lilifolia),  although  having 
the  same  common  name,  is  of  a  different  genus.  It 
is  a  more  attractive  plant,  having  two  broad  basal 
leaves  and  larger  flowers  with  a  broad  ovate  lip.  It 
grows  in  woodland  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

CORAL  ROOT  (Corallorrhiza  maculata)  is  so  nam- 
ed because  of  its  angular,  branching,  brownish,  coral- 
like  root.  The  scape  is  from  10  to  18  in.  high;  its 
only  leaf  appears  as  a  sheath  near  the  base.  The 
flowers  are  madder-purple,  in  a  loose  raceme;  the 
sepals  and  petals  are  small,  similar  and  ascending; 
the  lip  and  column  are  white,  spotted  with  purple,  the 
former  being  two-lobed.  There  are  five  species  of 
Coral  Root,  all  destitute  of  green  foliage,  and  differ- 
ing only  slightly  in  the  flowers.  They  are  found  in 
spruce  woods  from  Me.  to  British  Columbia  and 
southwards. 


WILD  GINGER. 
As  arum  canadense. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies  99 

BIRTHWORT    FAMILY    (Aristolochiaceae). 

A  small  family  of  low  herbs  or  twining  vines,  with 
but  two  genera  and  few  species. 

WILD  GINGER  (Asarum  canadense)  may  be  found 
flowering  in  rich  woods  during  April  and  May,  from 
Me.  to  Mich,  and  southwards.  It  has  two,  large, 
heart-shaped  leaves  on  long  petioles  from  the  base; 
deep  green  above  and  lighter  below,  soft,  wooly  and 
handsomely  veined. 

The  leaves  are  very  beautiful,  but  it  is  the  solitary 
flower  that  makes  this  plant  so  interesting.  Small, 
dully  colored,  on  a  weak,  short  stem  that  barely 
raises  it  above  ground  and  often  leaves  it  concealed 
by  the  dead  leaves  that  carpet  the  woods  in  early 
Spring.  Really,  the  flower  is  quite  attractive.  Why 
should  it  not  raise  its  head  that  it  might  be  noticed 
by  everybody?  A  careful  watch  will  convince  the  ob- 
server that  all  flowers  are  so  constructed  and  so 
placed  that  they  serve  the  best  interests  of  the  plant. 
So  it  is  with  this  species.  It  blooms  early,  before 
butterflies  and  moths  appear;  it  needs  no  bright  col- 
ors to  attract  insect  friends,  as  the  urn-shaped  flower 
cup  makes  an  excellent  refuge  for  many  small,  early 
flies.  It  also  provides  these  flies  with  an  abundance 
of  pollen  for  food;  in  return,  they  unwittingly  carry 
some  away  with  them  on  their  bodies  and  leave  it  at 
the  door,  or  stigma,  of  another  blossom.  The  stigma 
of  this  flower  matures  before  its  anthers  ripen  so 
only  pollen  from  another,  earlier  blossom  will  serve 
to  quicken  the  seed. 

The  flower  is  bell-shaped,  with  three  short,  sharply- 
pointed,  spreading  lobes;  six  stamens  with  short  an- 
thers and  a  thick  style  with  six  radiating  stigmas. 
Another  species  (grandiflorum),  found  in  Va.  and  N. 
C.  has  but  one  leaf  and  flowers  twice  as  large,  or  two 
inches  in  length. 


PIPE  VINE;  DUTCHMAN'S   PIPE. 
Aristolochia  macrophylla. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         101 

VIRGINIA  SNAKEROOT  (Aristolichia  serpentaria) 
is  a  low  herbaceous  vine  with,  a  woolystem  from  8  to 
20  in.  long,  with  several  pointed-oblong  leaves  with 
heart-shaped  bases  alternating  along  it.  The  dull 
greenish-yellow  flowers  are  on  short  peduncles  from 
the  root;  the  calyx  tube  is  bent  in  the  form  of  a  let- 
ter S,  with  three  obtuse,  spreading  lobes.  It  flowers 
in  June  and  July  in  rich  woods  from  Conn,  and  Mich, 
to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

PIPE  VINE;  DUTCHMAN'S  PIPE  (A.  macrophyl- 
la).  The  Dutchman's  Pipe  is  chiefly  a  southern  plant 
or  vine,  being  found  from  Pa.  and  Minn,  southwards. 
It  has  a  woody,  climbing  stem  that  may  attain  lengths 
of  from  10  to  40  feet.  It  is  often  used  to  decorate 
porches  and  trellises.  The  very  large,  deep  green, 
veiny  leaves  that  alternate  along  the  stem  are  very 
beautiful.  In  the  dull,  greenish-yellow  flowers,  how- 
ever, lies  the  chief  interest  of  the  botanist.  Its  stig- 
ma matures  and  withers  away  before  the  ripening  of 
the  pollen,  thus  making  the  plant  dependent  upon  in- 
sects for  its  perpetuation. 

Besides  furnishing  a  hiding  place  in  its  tube,  H 
secretes  at  the  bottom  a  few  drops  of  nectar  as  an 
added  attraction  for  its  winged  visitors.  The  throat 
is  filled  with  tiny  hairs,  all  pointing  inwards,  so  in- 
gress is  easy  but  egress  impossible.  Entering  insects 
are  held  prisoners,  living  upon  the  nectar,  until  the 
stigma  withers  and  pollen  ripens;  after  this  the  hairs 
in  the  throat  lose  their  rigidity  and  the  pollen-dusted 
and  well  fed  prisoners  are  allowed  to  escape.  Their 
memories  are  poor  or  the  pollen  feast  is  well  worth 
the  imprisonment  for  they  usually  immediately  hie 
to  another  blossom  and  force  their  way  in,  of  course 
pollenizing  the  flower  in  so  doing. 

It  almost  seems  as  though  some  of  these  highly 
specialized  plants  were  human  and  had  reasoning 
power. 


r 


A.     LADY'S  THUMB;  PERSICARIA. 
Polygonum  persicaria. 

B.     SMARTWEED. 
Polygonum  Hydropiper. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         103 

BUCKWHEAT    FAMILY    (Polygonaceae). 

This  family  contains  a  great  variety  and  great 
number  of  species.  It  is  divided  into  seven  genera 
and  many  of  these  are  further  divided.  They  are  all 
inconspicuous  in  flower  and  most  of  them  are  regard- 
ed as  obnoxious  weeds.  The  genus  Rumex,  to  which 
our  common  Sorrels  belong,  contains  seventeen  spe- 
cies: that  of  Polygonum,  which  contains  the  Knot- 
weeds,  has  32  species  included  in  its  six  sub-genera. 
The  scope  and  size  of  this  book  prevents  even  men- 
tion of  the  majority  of  these,  so  we  have  selected 
types  most  common,  most  conspicuous  and  most  in- 
teresting. 

FIELD  or  SHEEP  SORREL  (Rumex  acetosella  has 
dioecious  flowers, — that  is  staminate  and  pistillate 
ones  grow  on  different  plants.  They  are  tiny,  per- 
fect, greenish  at  first  but  later  turning  dark  red,  on 
branching  spikes.  The  leaves  are  arrow-shaped,  on 
slender  petioles  from  the  base,  but  smaller  ones  al- 
ternate along  the  plant  stem  that  grows  from  6  to 
12  in.  high;  they  are  very  acrid  to  the  taste  and  usual- 
ly turn  reddish  as  the  season  advances,  especially  if 
in  a  dry  locality.  It  is  very  common  and  a  trouble- 
some weed  everywhere. 

LADY'S  THUMB;  PERSICARIA;  KNOTGRASS 
(Polygonum  persicaria)  (EUROPEAN).  This  is  a 
very  common  weed  everywhere  in  damp  places,  es- 
pecially about  farm  houses.  The  small,  crimson-pink 
flowers  are  in  dense  spikes  terminating  the  branching 
stems  that  are  from  1  to  3  feet  high.  The  lanceolate, 
pointed  leaves,  that  alternate  along  the  angled  and 
sheathed  stem,  are  rather  rough  and  usually  have  a 
dark  triangular  spot  in  the  middle. 

COMMON  SMARTWEED;  WATER  PEPPER  (P. 
hydropiper)  has  similar  shaped  flowers  of  a  greenish 
color.  The  leaves  are  lanceolate  and  very  acrid.  It 
is  very  abundant  in  wet  places  throughout  our  range. 


A.  CHICKWEED. 
Stellaria  media. 

B.  STITCHWORT. 
Stellaria  longifolia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         105 

PINK    FAMILY    (Caryophyllaceae). 

This  is  a  very  large  family  containing  some  of  our 
most  beautiful  flowers.  They  are  herbs,  agreeing  in 
having  smooth-edged  leaves  growing  oppositely  and 
in  having  the  plant  stem  usually  swollen  at  its  junc- 
tion with  the  leaves.  The  flowers  have  either  four 
or  five  petals  and  usually  twice  as  many  stamens. 

COMMON  CHICKWEED  (Stellaria  media)  (EURO- 
PEAN). Although  this  is  an  introduced  weed,  so 
hardy  and  prolific  is  it  that  probably  it  now  exceeds 
in  numbers,  any  of  our  indigenous  plants.  It  grows 
profusely  about  dooryards  and  along  roadsides  every- 
where. The  flowers  are  small,  so  tiny  that  they  are 
often  unnoticed,  even  by  those  who  take  pleasure  in 
feeding  the  leaves  to  the  pet  canary.  The  corolla  con- 
sists of  five  white,  very  deeply  cleft  petals,  and  the 
calyx  of  the  same  number  of  larger  and  longer 
green  sepals.  The  leaves  are  ovate,  small,  opposite, 
on  small  stems  about  the  length  of  the  leaves.  The 
plant  stem  is  either  simple  or  branched  and  ranges 
from  2  to  10  in.  in  height. 

LONG-LEAVED  STITCHWORT  (S.  longifolia)  has 

larger  flowers  than  the  last,  but  the  petals  are  very 
narrow  and  so  deeply  cleft  as  to  appear  to  be  ten  in 
number  instead  of  five.  The  sepals  are  nearly  but 
not  quite  as  long  as  the  petals.  The  stem  is  weak 
and  usually  supported  by  surrounding  grasses  or 
vegetation.  The  leaves  are  small,  linear  and  pointed 
at  both  ends.  Common  everywhere  in  wet  places. 

MOUSE-EARED  CHICKWEED  (Cerastium  arvense) 

has  much  larger  and  broader  petals  with  rounded 
lobes,  giving  them  something  the  appearance  of 
mouse  ears.  Sepals  short;  leaves  lanceolate;  stem 
downy,  4  to  10  in.  high.  Common  in  dry  or  rocky 
places. 


A.     CORN  COCKLE. 
Agrostemma  githago. 
B.     RAGGED  ROBIN. 
Lychnis  Flos-cuculi. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         107 

CORN  COCKLE  (Agrostemma  githago)  (EURO- 
PEAN). The  Corn  Cockle  is  very  closely  related  to 
the  Campions  (genus  Lychnis) ;  in  fact  it  was  for- 
merly classed  with  them  and  is  now  by  some  authors. 
It  is  an  annual  with  an  erect  and  rather  downy  stem; 
it  branches  but  slightly,  each  branch  being  terminat- 
td  by  one  or  two  large  handsome  magenta  flowers 
with  an  expanse  of  one  to  two  inches.  The  calyx  is 
densely  hairy,  as  are  also  the  lanceolate  leaves  that 
grow  oppositely  on  the  stem.  The  stem  is  swollen 
at  the  leaf  junctions  and  is  weakened  at  that  point 
so  that  it  breaks  quite  readily;  this  is  one  of  the  char- 
acteristics of  most  of  the  members  of  the  pink  fam- 
ily. In  Europe,  this  is  often  called  the  Corn  Flower; 
it  represents  one  of  the  typical  plants  of  the  harvest 
fields.  In  this  country  we  find  it  as  an  escape  from 
gardens  or  in  waste  places  near  grain  fields. 

RAGGED  ROBIN  (Lychnis  Flos-cuculi)  (EURO- 
PEAN). This  species,  which  is  also  known  as  Mea- 
dow Lychnis,  is  noteworthy  because  of  the  slashed 
appearance  of  its  five  crimson  petals.  The  flower 
calyx  is  deeply  ribbed  and  is  of  a  brownish  purple 
color,  as  is  also  the  upper  part  of  the  flower  stem; 
both  are  sticky  and  hairy.  The  name  is,  of  course, 
from  the  ragged  appearance  of  the  petals  and  also  from 
their  color  which  approaches  that  of  the  breast  of 
the  English  Robin  Red-breast.  It  is  sometimes  found 
in  waste  land  or  moist  places  where  it  has  escaped 
from  cultivation.  • 

MULLEIN    PINK   (L.  coronaria)    (EUROPEAN)    is 

a  showy  plant  with  bright  crimson  petals,  five  in 
number;  the  calyx  teeth,  or  sepals,  are  twisted.  The 
oblong  leaves  are  seated  oppositely  upon  the  stem. 
The  whole  plant,  stem,  leaves  and  calyx,  is  quite 
wooly.  It  has  escaped  from  gardens  and  is  now  local- 
Ip  found  from  Me.  to  N.  Y.  and  Mich. 


A.  BLADDER  CAMPION. 
Silene  latifolia. 

B.  EVENING  LYCHNIS. 
Lychnis  alba. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         109 

BLADDER  CAMPION  (Silene  latifolia  (EURO- 
PEAN.) 

We  have  several  Campions,  some  natives  and 
some  introduced.  The  present  species  was  brought 
to  us  from  Europe.  It  has  very  unusual  blossoms,  in 
that  the  calyx  is  very  inflated,  almost  globular  and 
handsomely  marked  with  darker  green,  so  as  to  often 
give  it  a  very  similar  appearance  to  that  of  the  citron 
melon.  The  five  white  petals  are  cleft  in  twain  for 
nearly  their  whole  length.  The  plant  branches  but 
slightly,  each  branch  being  terminated  by  a  loose, 
few-flowered  cluster.  The  leaves  are  quite  smooth  and 
grow  oppositely  on  the  stem,  slightly  clasping  it 
with  their  bases;  they  are  ovate-lanceolate  in  shape 
and  deep  green  in  color.  This  species  is  a  very  hardy 
one.  It  is  a  perennial  and  plants  spring  up  from  the 
same  root  year  after  year,  while  numerous  new  ones 
are  formed  from  the  flower  seeds. 

It  is  a  common  escape  from  gardens  and  may  be 
found  blooming  from  June  to  August  along  roads  or 
in  dry  waste  places  from  Quebec  to  Minn,  and  south 
to  Va.  and  Mo. 

EVENING    LYCHNIS;    WHITE    CAMPION    (Lychnis 
alba)    (EUROPEAN). 

This  is  another  attractive  species  introduced  from 
Europe.  It  gets  its  common  name  from  the  habit 
of  opening  towards  evening  and  closing  the  follow- 
ing morning.  The  petals  are  white,  deeply  cleft  and 
crowned  at  the  base  with  little  petal-like  divisions; 
the  calyx  is  inflated  and  often  deep  pink  on  the  ribs. 
As  usual  with  members  of  the  family,  the  leaves  are 
smooth  edged  and  in  pairs,  oppositely  on  the  stem 
that  grows  from  one  to  two  feet  high.  These  are  also 
found  in  waste  places  and  along  roadsides  where 
they  have  escaped  from  gardens,  from  Me.  to  N.  J. 
and  west  to  Ohio. 


BOUNCING  BET;  SOAPWORT. 
Saponaria  officinalis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         111 

BOUNCING  BET  (Saponaria  officinalis)  (EURO- 
PEAN). This  is  probably  the  most  hardy  and  the 
most  widely  distributed  of  our  adventive  members 
of  the  Pink  Family.  It  increases  very  rapidly  by 
means  of  underground  runners  as  well  as  by  seed. 
It  is  very  commonly  known  as  "Soapwort,"  because 
of  the  fact  that  the  mucilaginous  juice  from  the 
crushed  leaves  will  form  a  lather  if  they  are  shaken 
in  water;  it  is  said  that  it  was,  in  olden  days,  used 
for  washing  purposes. 

The  plant  stem  is  quite  stout,  smooth,  erect  and 
sparingly,  or  not  at  all  branched.  At  the  top  is  a 
corymbed,  or  flat-topped,  cluster  containing  many 
flowers;  petals,  notched  or  sometimes  quite  deeply 
cleft,  and  with  an  appendage  at  the  top  of  the  long 
claws  that,  bent  at  right  angles,  enter  the  long,  tub- 
ular, veined,  greenish,  5-notched  calyx.  The  ten  sta- 
mens are  divided  into  two  sets  of  five,  one  longer 
than  the  other  and  maturing  first.  The  flowers  vary 
in  color  from  a  delicate,  beautiful  shade  of  pink  to 
white,  depending  upon  the  amount  of  shade  and  the 
dryness  of  the  soil  in  which  they  grow.  The  leaves 
are  ovate-lanceolate,  united  opositely  on  the  stem 
by  short  clasping  petioles. 

Prom  July  until  September,  Soapwort  blooms  pro- 
fusely in  waste  places  along  railroad  beds  and  be- 
side dusty  roads  where  few  other  flowers  are  able 
to  flourish.  It  was  one  of  the  first  of  foreign  flowers 
to  be  introduced  into  this  country  and  has  been  es- 
tablished as  a  wild  flower  for  several  centuries. 

COW-HERB  (S.  Vaccaria)  has  a  more  slender  and 
branching  stem  and  pale  red  flowers  in  a  loose  cory- 
mb, the  central  flowers  of  which  bloom  before  the 
outer  ones;  the  petals  are  not  crowned.  It  is  ad- 
ventive from  Europe  and  may  occur  anywhere. 


A.     MAIDEN  PINK. 

Dianthus  deltoides. 

B.     FIRE  PINK;  CATCHFLY. 

Silene  virginica. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         113 

MAIDEN  PINK  (Dianthus  deltoides)  (EUROPEAN) 
A  handsome  rose-colored  Pink  that  has  become  nat- 
uralized along  the  Atlantic  coast  and  is  quite  abun- 
dant in  some  localities,  in  fields  and  waste  places. 
The  flowers  grow  singly,  or  in  pairs,  at  the  ends  of 
the  branching  stem;  the  petals  are  broad,  wedge-shap- 
ed and  finely-toothed;  the  calyx  is  tubular,  five-tooth- 
ed, veined  and  subtended  at  the  base  by  two  ovate 
bracts  that  are  about  half  its  length.  The  leaves  are 
numerous,  small,  short  and  narrowly  lanceolate. 

The  Maiden  Pink  is  one  of  the  most  graceful  in 
form  of  the  family,  hardy  and  a  favorite  under  cul- 
tivation. 

DEPFORD  PINK   (D.  Armeria)    (EUROPEAN)   has 

narrower  petals  with  longer  claws;  the  five-toothed 
calyx  is  very  long,  equal  to  the  flower  tube,  and 
downy;  its  two  bracts  are  also  long  and  linear.  The 
pink  flowers  grow  in  small  clusters  at  the  ends  of 
branching,  downy,  erect  stems  from  6  to  18  in.  high. 
It  is  now  distributed  from  Me.  to  Mich,  and  south 
to  Va.,  being  most  abundant  near  the  coast. 

FIRE  PINK;  CATCHFLY  (Silene  virginica)  is  one 
of  our  most  brilliantly  colored  wild  flowers,  the 
petals  being  either  deep  crimson  or  scarlet;  the  five 
petals  are  oblong,  2-cleft,  long-limbed  and  five  in 
number.  The  lower  leaves  are  thin  and  spatulate, 
the  upper  ones  oblong-lanceolate.  Both  stem,  leaves 
and  calyx  are  rather  hairy.  This  species  is  found 
in  open  woods  from  southern  N.  J.,  western  N.  Y. 
and  Mich,  southwards. 

WILD    PINK     (Silene    pennsylvanica)    is    another 
beautiful  native  species,  with  bright  pink  flowers  and 
a  low,  sticky  stem,  the  upper  leaves  are  small,  and  . 
the  numerous  basal  ones,  lance-shaped.     It  is  rath- 
er common  from  Me.  to  N.  Y.  and  southwards. 

8 


A.     SPRING  BEAUTY. 
Claytonia  virginica. 

B.     PURSLANE. 
Portulaca  oleracea. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         115 

PURSLANE    FAMILY    (Portulacaceae). 
A  small  family  of  low  herbs,  with  thick  succulent 
leaves  and  perfect  but  unsymmetrical  flowers,  that  is 
with  unequal  numbers  of  petals  and  sepals. 

SPRING  BEAUTY  (Claytonia  virginica),  although 
very  delicate  in  appearance,  is  among  our  earliest 
flowering  plants.  It  may  be  found  blooming  during 
the  cold  wintry  month  of  March,  during  tempestuous 
April,  as  well  as  during  the  warmer  May  days. 

The  beautiful  flowers  have  a  pale  flush  of  pink, 
with  veins  of  deeper  pink  radiating  from  the  yellow- 
ish base.  One  would  expect  flowers  blooming  at  this 
season  to  be  rather  hardy,  but  we  find  this  species 
to  be  very  frail;  the  flowers  close  almost  immediately 
upon  being  plucked,  and  only  open  during  bright, 
sunny  weather.  The  weak  stem  is  usually  very  crook- 
ed and  is  often  prostrate  on  the  ground;  two  linear- 
lanceolate  leaves  clasp  it  oppositely  about  half  way 
up.  The  flowers  are  in  a  loose,  long-peduncled  clus- 
ter, the  buds  assuming  a  drooping  position.  The  open- 
ed flowers,  somewhat  less  than  inch  across,  have  five 
petals,  two  sepals  and  five  golden  stamens  that  ma- 
ture before  the  stigma.  It  is  found  in  moist  woods 
from  Me.  to  Mich,  and  south  to  the  Gulf. 

PURSLANE    (Portulaca    oleracea)    (EUROPEAN). 

This  is  a  very  common  weed,  naturalized  from  the  old 
world.  It  has  a  prostrate,  juicy  stem  and  thick 
fleshy  leaves;  the  latter  are  wedge-shaped  with 
rounded  ends.  The  stem  is  very  branching  and 
spreads  or  radiates  from  the  root  in  an  attractive 
circular  form.  The  flowers  are  tiny,  solitary  and 
yellowish,  seated  in  the  whorls  of  leaves  that  termin- 
ate the  branches.  The  five  petals  spread  only  in  the 
morning  sunshine.  Pound  in  waste  places  anywhere 
and  possibly  indigenous  in  the  Southwest. 


A.      Cow  LILY;  YELLOW  POND  LILY. 

Nymphaea  advena. 

B.  t  WATER  LILY. 

Castalia  odorata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         117 
WATER   LILY   FAMILY   (Nymphaecae). 

COW  LILY;  YELLOW  POND  LILY  (Nymphaea 
advena).  This  lily  has  the  misfortune  of  being  close- 
ly related  to  and  associated  with  the  Water  Lily, 
one  of  our  most  beautiful,  most  fragrant,  and  most 
prized  wild  flowers.  It  is  another  case  of  "comparis- 
ons are  odious,"  and  the  yellow  lily  suffers  in  conse- 
quence. It  is,  however,  not  unattractive  and  is  in- 
teresting in  its  make-up.  The  leaves  are  thick,  rough, 
ovate,  slit  or  lobed  to  the  stem,  which  is  long  and  hol- 
low. The  flower  is  raised  above  the  surface  of  the 
water  on  a  long  hollow  stem.  What  appear  to  be 
six  large  green  and  yellow  petals  are  in  reality  sepals; 
the  real  petals  are  numerous,  stamen-like,  inserted 
with  the  very  numerous  stamens  under  the  golden- 
yellow  rayed  disk  that  forms  the  stigma. 

The  Cow  Lily  is  very  common  in  still  or  stagnant 
water,  often  growing  so  profusely  that  passage  in 
boats  is  almost  impossible.  It  is  found  throughout 
the  United  States  and  southern  Canada. 

WATER  LILY;  WATER  NYMPH  (Castalia  odor- 
ata)  needs  no  introduction  to  our  readers.  To  my 
mind,(  it  leads  all  other  flowers  in  beauty,  grace,  pur- 
ity and  fragrance.  It  is  composed  of  four  sepals, 
greenish  on  the  outside  and  whitish  within,  and 
numerous  pure,  waxy-white  petals;  the  golden-yel- 
low stamens,  and  anthers  mature  later  than  the  ra- 
diating central  stigma.  The  flowers  open  soon  after 
sunrise  and  close  shortly  after  noon;  they  sometimes 
are  gigantic  in  size,  often  spreading  five  or  six  inches 
across.  It  flowers  from  June  to  Sept.  in  ponds  or 
slow-moving  water,  everywhere;  in  ponds  near  the 
coast,  we  find  a  variety  (roseae)  that  has  pink  or 
bright  pink-red  flowers.  The  rounded,  lobed,  long- 
stemmed  leaves  are  pinkish  beneath. 


A.     WATER  PLANTAIN. 

Ranunculus  laxicaulis. 

B.      COWSLIP;  MARSH  MARIGOLD. 

Caltha  palustris. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         119 

CROWFOOT   FAMILY   (Ranunculaceae). 

A  very  large  and  very  diversified  family  of  herbs, 
or  sometimes  wooly  plants,  divided  into  three  tribes 
containing  23  genera.  Practically  all  of  them  have 
very  acrid  juices,  some  of  them  very  poisonous. 

WATER   PLANTAIN    (Ranunculus   laxicaulis)   is  a 

rather  common  marsh-inhabiting  buttercup,  with  five 
to  seven  narrow  yellow  petals.  The  stem  is  stout  but 
rather  weak  and  angled,  at  each  joint  sending  out  a 
clasping  lanceolate,  almost  toothless  leaf.  The  flow- 
ers, which  are  about  3-4  in.  broad,  are  on  long  pedun- 
cles terminating  the  branching  stem  that  rises  from 
1  to  2  1-2  feet.  It  is  found  in  bogs,  ditches  and  muddy 
places  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  south  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico. 

STIFF   WATER- CROWFOOT    (R.   circinatus)    has 

white  flowers  and  sessile  leaves  that  are  entirely  sub- 
merged; the  latter  are  rigid  and  do  not  collapse  when 
taken  from  the  water,  as  do  those  of  the  more  com- 
mon White  Water  Crowfoot  (R.  aquatilis).  The  first 
species  is  rather  rare  and  the  last  very  common  in 
slow  flowing  waters  throughout  the  United  States. 

MARSH  MARIGOLD  (Caltha  palustris)  is  the  very 
common  marsh  herb  usually,  but  erroneously,  called 
"Cowslip."  Its  leaves  are  very  commonly  used  and 
marketed  for  food.  The  flowers  are  perfect,  have  no 
petals  but  from  five  to  nine  (usually  the  former)  gold- 
en-yellow, shining  sepals  and  numerous  brighter  sta- 
mens. The  stems  are  hollow  and  furrowed.  The 
leaves  are  round  kidney-shaped,  usually  with  scallop- 
ed edges.  Marsh  Marigold  is  abundant  in  swamps 
or  wet  meadows  from  Newfoundland  to  Alaska  and 
southwards  through  the  United  States,  flowering  in 
April  and  May. 


A.     CREEPING  BUTTERCUP. 

Ranunculus  repens. 

B.     COMMON  BUTTERCUP;  TALL  CROWFOOT. 
Ranunculus  acris. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         121 

CREEPING  BUTTERCUP  (Ranunculus  repens)  is, 
as  per  its  name,  a  creeping  plant.  The  stem  is  pros- 
trate, creeping  along  the  ground  and  striking  new 
roots  from  the  junctions  of  the  leaf  and  flower  stems 
with  the  main  one.  The  flowers  are  large  and  broad- 
petalled,  both  the  petals  and  stamens  being  a  deep 
shining  golden  yellow.  This  species  is  indigenous 
in  the  West,  but  probably  introduced  from  Europe  in 
the  East,  where  it  is  found  chiefly  near  the  coast,  in 
ditches  or  along  the  edges  of  marshes.- 

SWAMP  BUTTERCUP  (R.  septentrionalis)  is  an- 
other of  the  Crowfoots  that  chooses  the  wettest  of 
places  for  its  habitat.  Its  stem  is  hairy,  ascending, 
from  1  to  2  1-2  feet  high.  In  very  wet  places  some  of 
the  stems  are  usually  recumbent  and  form  runners. 
The  leaves  are  on  long  petioles,  and  are  3-parted,  each 
division  being  stemmed  and  further  divided,  notched 
or  slashed.  The  flowers  are  rather  large,  for  Butter- 
cups, with  broad,  oval,  shining  yellow  petals,  spread- 
ing much  wider  than  the  sepals.  It  is  common  in 
moist  or  shady  places  throughout  our  range,  flowering 
from  May  to  August. 

COMMON  BUTTERCUP;  CROWFOOT  (R.  acris) 
(EUROPEAN).  Even  though  we  have  quantities  of 
native  Buttercups,  it  is  this  handsome  foreigner  that 
is  the  most  abundant;  this  is  the  species  that  is  found 
in  fields  everywhere,  the  one  that  delights  the  little 
folks  and  figures  in  many  of  their  childish  games. 
The  opposite  picture  shows  well  the  character  of  the 
flower  and  its  leaves,  but  paint  cannot  be  made  to  do 
justice  to  the  dazzling,  shining,  golden  yellow  But- 
tercup. 

The  leaves  and  stems  of  the  Crowfoots  are  very 
acrid,  but  not  poisonous;  on  this  account  they  are 
shunned  by  cattle  and  horses.  This  accounts  in 
part  for  their  abundance  in  most  fields  and  pas- 
tures. 


A.     TALL  MEADOW  RUE. 

Thalictrum  polygamum. 

B.     PASQUE  FLOWER. 

Anemone  patens. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         123 

TALL    MEADOW    RUE    (Thalictrum    polygamum) 

is  one  of  the  characteristic  plants  of  swamps  and 
edges  of  streams.  It  is  very  ambitious  and  determin- 
ed that  none  of  its  neighbors  shall  raise  their  heads 
above  it.  If  the  surrounding  vegetation  averages  one 
foot  in  height,  this  is  sure  to  attain  a  height  of  two 
feet.  Should  its  neighboring  plants  be  three  or  four 
feet  high,  we  will  find  the  plumey  flowers  of  this 
species  triumphantly  waving  above  them  on  stems 
five,  six  or  even  seven  feet  tall. 

Naturally  a  flower  that  thrusts  itself  so  prominently 
into  view,  has  many  insect  visitors  and  is  often  cross- 
pollenized  by  them.  It  is  very  capable  of  looking 
out  for  itself,  for  it  has  often  three  kinds  of  flowers 
on  one  plant,  staminate,  pistillate  and  perfect. 

The  stalk  is  rather  stout  and  grooved,  pale  green, 
stained  with  maroon.  The  long  stemmed  leaves  are 
many  times  compounded  into  small,  lobed  leaflets  of  a 
pale,  dull  blue-green  color.  The  flowers  are  in  feathery 
clusters;  each  individual  flower  having  numerous 
white  filaments,  no  petals,  but  usually  four  or  five 
early  falling  sepals. 

Prom  June  to  September  we  may  find  the  mist-like 
flowers  of  Meadow  Rue  in  swamps,  from  Labrador 
to  Manitoba  and  south  through  the  United  States. 

EARLY  MEADOW  RUE  (T.  dioicum)  is  a  smaller 
and  more  slender  species  found  in  open  woods  and 
on  rocky  hillsides.  Staminate,  brown-tipped  flowers 
grow  on  some  plants  and  pale  greenish  pistillate  ones 
grow  on  others. 

PASQUE  FLOWER  (Anemone  patens)  has  a  soli- 
tary erect  flower  with  five  to  seven  purplish  sepals. 
Leaves  divided  and  cut  into  narrow,  acute  lobes. 
Both  stem  and  leaves  covered  with  silky  hairs.  This 
species  is  found  on  prairies  from  Wis.  and  Montana 
southwards. 


A.     WOOD  ANEMONE;  WIND  FLOWER. 
Anemone  quinque folia. 

B.     RUE  ANEMONE. 
Anemonella  thalictroides. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         125 

WOOD  ANEMONE;  WIND  FLOWER  (Anemone 
quinquefolia)  is  an  exceedingly  delicate  looking 
plant,  but  the  fortitude  with  which  it  withstands  the 
winds  of  early  April  rather  belies  its  appearance. 
Swayed  this  way  and  that,  with  a  violence  that  threat- 
ens to  demolish  it,  it  safely  weathers  the  most  se- 
vere storms  and,  with  the  appearance  of  the  sun, 
its  nodding  head  beckons  a  welcome  to  the  early 
bees.  Very  appropriate  indeed  is  its  common  name 
of  ''Wind  Flower." 

The  stem  is  slender  and  4  to  8  in.  high.  Three 
leaves  radiate  from  a  point  about  two  thirds  up;  each 
on  a  long  stem  and  divided  into  three  to  five,  tooth- 
ed, ovate  leaflets.  The  solitary  flower  rises  on  a 
slender  peduncle  from  the  junction  of  these  three 
leaves  with  the  stem  proper.  It  has  four  to  seven 
sepals,  most  often  five;  white  inside  and  purplish 
white  on  their  outer  surface;  numerous  yellow  and 
brown-tipped  stamens  radiate  from  the  base  of  the 
greenish  pistils;  the  flower  has  an  expanse  of  slight- 
ly less  than  one  inch,  but  is  rarely  seen  fully  expand- 
ed. The  very  smooth  slender  stalk  grows  from  an 
elongated,  horizontal  rootstalk.  The  Wind  Flower  is 
common  in  woods  or  thickets  from  Nova  Scotia  to 
the  Rockies  and  southwards. 

RUE  ANEMONE  (Anemonella  thalictroides)  is 
even  more  slender  in  form  than  the  Wind  Flower. 
From  four  to  nine  sepals,  (usually  six),  numerous  . 
orange-tipped  stamens  and  a  broad  stigma  make  up 
the  flower;  there  are  .several  of  them  on  exceedingly 
slender  peduncles,  rising  from  the  whorl  of  leaves. 
The  latter  are  on  slender  stems,  have  heart-shaped 
bases  and  three-lobed  ends;  rather  small,  pale  green 
above  and  with  a  whitish  bloom  below.  Its  root  is 
a  cluster  of  tuberous  rootlets.  It  is  found  in  the 
same  localities  and  the  same  range  as  the  last  spe- 
cies, with  which  it  associates. 


A.     PURPLE  VIRGIN'S  BOWER. 

Clematis  verticillaris. 

B.     VIRGIN'S  BOWER;  CLEMATIS. 

Clematis  virginiana. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         127 

PURPLE  VIRGINS  BOWER  (Clematis  verticillaris) 

is  probably  the  most  rare  species  of  Clematis.  It  grows 
in  rocky  hilly  or  mountainous  woods,  most  abundant- 
ly in  northern  portions  of  its  range,  which  is  from 
Quebec  to  Hudson  Bay  and  south  locally  to  Del.  and 
Pa.  It  is  a  climbing  woody  vine,  supporting  itself 
by  the  bending  or  clasping  of  the  leaf  stalks.  The 
flowers  grow  singly,  on  long  stems  from  the  axils 
of  the  leaves  or  from  the  end  of  the  vine.  They  are 
large  and  handsome,  the  four  thin,  purple,  pointed, 
translucent  sepals  spreading  from 'two  to  four  inches 
when  fully  expanded.  Both  sides  of  the  sepals  are 
covered  with  silky  hairs  or  down  along  the  edges. 
The  sepals  are  usually  much  concaved,  forming  a 
cup-shaped  flower;  the  petals  are  very  small,  spatu- 
late  shaped;  numerous  greenish-white  stamens  are 
clustered  in  the  center  of  the  flower.  The  leaves  are 
divided  into  three  leaflets,  ovate,  pointed,  with  a 
heart-shaped  base. 

MARSH  CLEMATIS  (C.  crispa),  found  in  the  south- 
ern states  is  the  most  beautiful  species ;  flowers  about 
the  size  of  the  last,  with  bluish-purple,  crimped,  or 
wavy-edged  sepals,  sweet  scented. 

LEATHER  FLOWER  (C.  Viorna)  is  a  larger  and 
tougher  species  with  a  woody  stem  that  often  reaches 
a  length  of  10  feet.  The  flower  calyx  is  bell-shaped, 
the  four  pointed  sepals  being  very  thick  and  leath- 
ery. It  grows  in  rich  soil,  usually  climbing  over 
bushes,  from  Pa.  to  Mo.  southwards,  flowering  in  May 
and  June. 

VIRGIN'S  BOWER  (Clematis  virginiana)  is  a  beau- 
tiful, graceful,  climbing,  twining  vine  found  through- 
out our  range.  The  small  greenish  white  flowers,  with 
four  or  five  sepals,  grow  in  clusters  from  the  leaf 
axils;  staminate  and  pistillate  ones  are  on  separate 
plants.  In  Pall,  the  beautiful  silky  plumes  of  the 
seed  pods  gives  this  species  the  name  of  "Old  Man's 
Beard." 


A.     WILD  COLUMBINE. 

Aquilegia  canadensis. 

B.     GOLD  THREAD. 

Coptis  trifolia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         129 

WILD  COLUMBINE  (Aquilegia  canadensis)  is  one 
of  our  typical,  early  woodland  plants,  graceful  in 
form  and  beautiful  in  flower.  It  grows  in  rocky  wood- 
land throughout  our  range,  flowering  from  April  to 
June.  The  slender  roots  are  perennial  and  the  plant 
will  grow  up  each  year  if  this  is  undisturbed.  Unfor- 
tunately, from  the  nature  and  shallowness  of  the 
soil  among  the  rocks,  and  the  tough  wiry,  slender 
stem,  it  is  usually  plucked  out  by  the  roots  by  those 
gathering  flowers.  I  trust  that  those  of  my  readers 
who  find  it  necessary  or  advisable  to  gather  this,  or 
other  flowers,  will  make  sure  that  at  least  the  root 
be  left  for  future  production. 

The  flowers  are  well  shown  on  the  opposite  page; 
the  stem  is  very  slender,  wiry  and  graceful,  quite 
branching  and  attaining  heights  of  one  to  two  feet. 
The  flowers  are  heavy,  which  causes  them  to  nod 
from  their  slender,  thread-like  peduncles.  A  quantity 
of  nectar  is  secreted  in  the  base  of  each  red  spur, 
serving  to  attract  butterflies,  moths  and  often  the 
Ruby-throated  Hummingbirds,  for  these  birds  are  very 
partial  to  red  colors.  Columbine  blossoms  from  April 
to  July  throughout  our  range,  on  rocky,  wooded  hill- 
sides. 

GOLDTHREAD  (Coptis  trifolia)  is  a  small  wood- 
land plant  receiving  its  name  from  the  slender, 
threadlike,  golden-yellow  roots;  these  are  very  bitter 
and  are  used  for  the  concoction  of  several  medicines. 
These  roots  are  characterisitc  and  readily  identify 
the  species.  The  leaves  also  are  peculiar  in  that 
they  are  evergreen,  and  deep  shining  green  in  color, 
3-parted  and  notched,  on  long  petioles  from  the  root 
The  white  flower  has  five  or  six  early  falling  sepals; 
it  is  usually  solitary  on  a  scape  from  3  to  6  in.  high. 
Common  in  rich 'woods  throughout  U.  S.  and  Canada. 


A.  MONKSHOOD;  ACONITE. 
Aconitum  uncinatum. 

B.  HEPATICA;  LIVERWORT.' 

Hepatica  triloba. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         131 

MONKSHOOD;  ACONITE  (Aconitum  uncinatum) 
is  an  attractive  wild  flower  with  a  slender,  rather  weak, 
stem  often  supporting  itself  against  other  species. 
Some  of  its  traits  remind  one  of  the  Columbine,  to 
which  it  is  closely  related,  but  it  lacks  the  hardy  qual- 
ities of  that  species.  The  flowers  are  quite  large  and 
handsome;  they  grow  in  a  loose,  few-flowered  raceme. 
The  five  sepals  are  very  unequal  in  size  and  shape; 
the  upper  one  is  large  and  hood-like,  and  conceals 
two  small  petals  within  it;  it  has  three  to  five  pistils, 
numerous  stamens  and  three  other  abortive  petals. 
The  leaves  are  firm,  three  to  five-lobed  and  notched, 
on  slender  petioles.  It  grows  in  rich,  moist  woods 
from  Pa.  southwards,  flowering  from  June  to  Septem- 
ber. 

HEPATICA;    LIVERWORT   (Hepatica  triloba).     It 

is  always  with  a  feeling  of  ecstacy  that  we  find  or 
hear  the  first  reported  blooming  of  the  Tieritica, 
each  year;  its  coming  is  the  first  sign  of  the  break- 
ing up  of  winter.  If  we  except  the  early- flower  ing 
Skunk  Cabbage,  and  many  refuse  to  consider  this  at 
all  as  a  flower,  the  beautiful  Hepatica  is  the  first  of 
our  flowers  to  appear.  It  is  seemingly  well  clad  for 
low  temperatures,  for  its  stems  are  thickly  covered 
with  fuzzy  hairs;  the  three-lobed,  smootli-ed^ed 
leaves  are  rather  thick  and  coarse,  lasting  tb:  ough 
the  winter  but  turning  a  ruddy  color,  while  1;:e  new 
ones,  that  appear  with  the  buds,  are  light  green  ari.l 
radiate  above  the  older  prostrate  ones.  A  single  blos- 
som appears  at  the  end  of  each  long  fuzzj  -cape;  it 
is  about  one  inch  broad,  has  five  to  ten  pule  pur 
pie  or  lilac  sepals  and  numerous  greenish  n'-iiils 
and  yellow  anthers;  they  have  a  slight  fr,«"_"  _.uce. 

Hepaticas  grow  in  small  v.  Tories,  blooming  from 
March  to  May  in  open  'v-'-Js  ti'Jiii  N.  S  to  Manitoba 
and  southwards. 


MAY  APPLE;  MANDRAKE. 
Podophyllum  peltatum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         133 

MANDRAKE;  MAY  APPLE  (Podophyllum  pelta- 
tum)  belongs  to  the  Barberry  Family  (Berberida- 
ceae),  a  small  family  of  shrubs  or  herbs,  divided  into 
five  genera  of  but  one  or  two  species  each.  The 
present  species  is  quite  common  in  rich  woods,  or  in 
shady,  moist  ground,  from  western  N.  B.  to  Minn, 
and  southwards,  flowering  in  May.  The  bare  stalk 
rises  to  heights  of  1-0  to  12  inches,  then  branches  into 
two  long-stemmed,  light  green,  large,  spreading 
leaves;  the  latter  are  five  to  nine-parted,  lobed, 
notched,  and  unevenly  balanced.  Prom  the  forked 
joint  of  the  leaves,  hangs  a  solitary  white  flower  on  a 
short,  slender,  curving  peduncle;  this  is  very  deli- 
cate, nearly  two  inches  across,  and  of  six  petals  and 
twice  as  many  stamens.  Other  non-flowering  stalks 
bear  at  the  summits,  single,  large,  one-sided,  divided 
leaves. 

While  the  blossom  of  the  May  Apple  yields  no  nec- 
tar, it  is  visited  by  bees  in  search  of  pollen  and  is 
chiefly  fertilized  through  their  agency.  The  fruit  is 
large  and  lemon-shaped,  yellow  in  color,  ripening  in 
July.  It  is  the  fruit  that  gives  it  the  name  of  May 
Apple.  It  is  also  known  as  "Wild  Lemon/'  quite  an 
appropriate  name  if  the  fruit  alone  is  considered. 
While  the  leaves  and  stem  are  poisonous,  the  fruit  is 
not,  but  has  a  peculiar,  acid,  sickish  flavor. 

TWINLEAF  (Jeffersonia  diphylla)  is  a  small,  low 
plant,  being  only  about  8  in.  high  when  in  flower.  The 
solitary  white  flower  has  eight  white  petals  and  half 
as  many  early-falling  sepals;  it  grows  at  the  top  of 
a  naked  scape.  The  two-parted  leaves  grow  from 
the  root  on  long  petioles;  they  are  bright  above  and 
rather  whitish  below. 

Twinleaf  is  not  uncommon  in  moist  woods  from  N. 
Y.  to  Wise,  and  southwards;  it  flowers  in  April  and 
May. 


A.     BLOODROOT. 

Sanguinaria  canadensis. 

B.     PRICKLY  POPPY. 

Argemone  intermedia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         135 

BLOODROOT  (Sanguinaria  canadensis).  Closely 
following  on  the  heels  of  our  handsome  Hepatica,  we 
find  the  delicate  flowered  Bloodroot  unfurling  its 
leaves  and  expanding  its  flowers  in  rich,  rocky,  op- 
en woodland.  Almost  before  snow  has  left,  the 
flower  stalk  bearing  a  little  bud,  closely  wrapped  in 
a  delicate  silvery  leaflet,  forces  its  way  up  through 
the  earth  and  dead  leaves.  The  leaf  unfurls  and  the 
flower  stalk  grows  rapidly,  forcing  the  bud  up  out  of 
its  protection;  it  now  opens,  the  two  sheathing  sepals 
falling  off,  exposing  to  our  view  an  exquisitely — 
pure,  white,  delicate  blossom;  the  eight  petals  are 
partially  closed  on  dull  days,  but  in  sunshine  spread 
wide  open,  one  and  one-half  inches  in  diameter,  ex- 
posing the  golden  center  made  up  of  the  numerous, 
yellow-tipped  stamens.  The  flowers  are  very  deli- 
cate; the  petals  stay  but  two  or  three  days  anyway, 
and  a  breath  of  wind  may  blow  them  off  sooner. 

After  the  flower  is  gone,  the  leaf  developes  rapidly 
and  becomes  very  large  and  imposing,  with  many 
divisions  and  lobes.  The  root  is  reddish  and  is  filled 
with  a  blood-like  juice,  as  is  also  the  stem.  This  is 
now  used  in  medicines  and  was  formerly  used  by  In- 
dians for  coloring  purposes.  Bloodroot  is  common 
from  N.  S.  to  Minn,  and  southwards..  It  flowers  in 
April  and  May. 

PRICKLY  POPPY  (Argemone  mexicana)  is  a  hand- 
some Mexican  plant  found  in  the  southwestern  por- 
tions of  the  United  States  and,  as  an  escape,  in  other 
portions.  It  has  a  prickly  stem  from  one  to  two  feet 
high.  The  stemless  leaves  have  sharp  lobes,  also 
armed  with  prickles.  The  flower  is  bright  yellow, 
has  four  petals  and  numerous  orange-tipped  stamens. 
The  later  fruit  capsule  is  about  one  inch  in  length 
and  is  covered  with  prickly  bristles.  The  flowers 
give  no  nectar,  but  plenty  of  pollen  to  the  bees  that 
visit  them. 


CELANDINE. 
Chelidonium  ma  jus. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         137 

CELANDINE  (Chelidonium  majus)    (EUROPEAN). 

Although,  this  is  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,  having 
come  to  us  from  across  the  seas,  it  is  by  no  means 
backwards  and  is  extending  its  range  with  remark- 
able celerity.  It  is  now  abundant  almost  everywhere 
in  the  eastern  half  of  our  country,  It  bids  fair,  in 
time,  to  extend  its  range  to  equal  that  of  the  English 
Sparrow,  but  we  trust  it  will  never  become  a  pest  as 
that  bird  has. 

The  stem  is  quite  stout  and  very  branching;  at 
the  end  of  each  branch  is  a  loose  cluster  of  buds  on 
slender  pedicels.  These  open  one  or  two  at  a  time, 
so  that  the  plant  keeps  in  bloom  for  a  long  time;  in 
fact,  the  flowering  season  extends  from  early  in  May 
to  the  end  of  September.  The  flowers  are  half  an 
inch  or  more  broad,  with  four  golden-yellow  petals, 
a  slender,  pointed  green  pistil  and  numerous  yellow 
stamens.  The  seed-pod  is  long  and  slender;  when 
ripe,  it  splits  at  the  base  and  allows  the  seeds  to  es- 
cape. Towards  the  end  of  the  flowering  season,  the 
continued  bloom  is  marked  by  the  large  number  of 
these  pods  with  which  the  plant  is  decorated. 

The  thin,  soft  leaves  are  very  handsomely  divided 
into  three  to  seven,  lobed  leaflets.  Both  stem  and 
leaves  have  a  bright  yellow,  very  acrid  juice,  that 
stains  everything  it  comes  in  contact  with.  Celand- 
ine is  often  known  in  Europe  as  "Swallow-wort"  as 
it  is  supposed  to  commence  flowering  with  the  com- 
ing of  the  swallows  and  to  cease  with  their  departure. 
Its  generic  name  also  originated  in  this  belief. 

CELANDINE   POPPY  (Stylophorum  diphyllum)  is  a 

very  similar  species,  both  as  to  leaf  and  flower.  It 
has  fewer  flowers  than  the  last,  and  the  seed  pod  is 
ovoid  in  shape  and  bristly.  It  is  found  from  Pa.  to 
Wise,  and  southwards. 


A.     DUTCHMAN'S  BREECHES. 
Dicentra  cucullaria. 
B.     SQUIRREL  CORN. 
Dicentra  canadensis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         139 

DUTCHMAN'S   BREECHES   (Dicentra  Cucullaria). 

This  peculiarly  flowered  herb  belongs  to  the  Fumi- 
tory family  (Pumariaceae),  a  family  of  delicate, 
smooth  plants  with  watery  juices  and  compound,  dis- 
sected leaves.  One  has  but  to  glance  at  this  species 
to  see  why  it  should  have  received  the  name  it  bears. 
Of  times  objects  are  fancifully  named,  and.  future  gen- 
erations look  and  wonder,  but  fail  to  see  the  reason 
for  so  naming  them,  but  not  so  with  Dutchman's 
Breeches,  for  there  are  the  little  panties  suspended 
where  all  may  see  them. 

The  flower  stalk,  proceeding  from  the  root,  attains 
heights  of  from  5  to  9  inches  and  bears  a  loose  ra- 
ceme of  four  to  eight  white,  inverted  flowers;  the 
four  petals  are  united  in  pairs,  two  of  them  forming 
a  large  double-spurred  sac,  and  the  other  two  very 
small  petals  forming  a  protection  for  the  stigma. 
The  double  sac  is  white,  stained  with  yellow.  The 
leaves  are  on  long  petioles  from  the  rootstalk;  they 
are  pale  sage-green  in  color,  3-parted  and  finely  slash- 
ed. Dutchman's  Breeches  may  be  found  blooming 
in  April  and  May.  in  rich,  hilly  woods  from  N.  S.  to 
Minn,  and  south  to  N.  C.  and  Mo. 

SQUIRREL  CORN  (D.  canadensis)  is  similar,  but 
the  white  *sac-like  petals  are  stained  with  purple,  the 
spurs  are  shorter  and  rounder  and  the  flower  is 
slightly  fragrant.  The  roots  have  little  tuberous  ap- 
pendages resembling  grains  of  corn.  This  species  is 
found  in  the  same  range  as  the  last. 

PALE    CORYDALIS    (Corydalis    sempervirens)    is 

also  similar  in  some  respects  to  the  foregoing 
species.  The  leaves  are  sage  green,  3-parted,  but 
not  slashed  as  much  as  those  of  Dutchman's  Breeches. 
The  pale  magenta  flowers  are  half  an  inch  long,  have 
a  rounded  base  and  two-flanged  mouth.  It  is  found 
from  N.  S.  to  Minn,  and  south  to  Ga. 


A.     TOOTHWORT;    CRINKLEROOT. 

Dent  aria  diphylla. 

B.     WHITLOW  GRASS. 

Draba  verna. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         141 

MUSTARD  FAMILY  (Cruciferae). 
A  large  family  divided  into  eight  tribes,  thirty  one 
genera  and  more  than  a  hundred  species.  All  have 
pungent  watery  juices,  finely  dissected  compound 
leaves  and  cruciform  flowers,  the  four  spreading 
limbs  of  the  petals  forming  a  cross. 

TOOTHWORT;     CRINKLEROOT    (Dentaria    diph- 

ylla).  During  the  latter  part  of  April  or  in  May  we 
will  find  white,  crosslike  flowers  of  Toothwort  often 
growing  side  by  side  with  Anemones.  Its  stem  is 
stout  and  smooth,  and  rises  to  heights  of  8  to  12  inch- 
es. At  the  top  are  the  flowers  arranged  in  a  loose 
spike,  on  short  peduncles;  they  are  half  an  inch  wide, 
have  four  white  petals,  the  same  number  of  shorter 
sepals  and  numerous  yellow  stamens.  Two  3-parted, 
notched-edged  leaves  with  short  stems,  are  set  op- 
positely on  the  flowering  stalk,  above  the  middle; 
other  larger,  similar  ones  are  on  long  petioles  from 
the  rootstalk.  Its  names  are  derived  from  the  shape 
of  the  root,  which  is  crinkled  and  with  toothlike  ap- 
pendages; it  is  edible  and  often  used  by  country 
fclk  as  a  relish.  It  is  found  in  rich  woods  from  N.  S. 
to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

CUT-LEAVED  TOOTHWORT  (D.  laciniata)  is  very 
similar.  The  leaves  are  deeply  cut  into  narrow  lobes, 
conspicuously  gash-toothed.  The  root  is  deep-seated 
and  with  larger  tubers.  This  species  blooms  from 
April  to  June  in  about  the  same  range  as  the  last. 

WHITLOW   GRASS   (Draba  verna)    (EUROPEAN) 

has  become  quite  common  throughout  our  range.  It 
is  a  weed  that  we  will  find  along  roadsides,  waste 
places  or  barren  fields.  The  flowers  are  small,  and 
the  four  white  petals  are  deeply  notched.  The  scape 
is  from  1  to  5  in.  high.  The  leaves  are  all  basal, 
lance-shaped  and  lobed  or  toothed. 


A.     COMMON  BLACK  MUSTARD. 

Bras  sic  a  nigra. 
B.     HEDGE   MUSTARD. 
Sisymbrium  officinale. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         143 

COMMON  MUSTARD  (Brassica  nigra)  (EURO- 
PEAN). Mustard  is  extensively  cultivated  in  Europe 
for  the  small  dark  brown  seeds  that  form  a  valuable 
article  of  commerce,  being  used  for  the  table  condi- 
ment and  for  various  medicinal  purposes,  such  as 
liniments  and  the  dreaded  mustard  plaster. 

In  our  country,  Mustard  is  regarded  as  a  pest;  it 
is  a  very  strong,  hardy  plant,  soon  over-running  sec- 
tions where  it  gets  a  foothold.  It  is  very  abundant 
about  abandoned  farms  and  often  enroaches  upon 
fields  in  cultivation;  its  continued  presence  in  the 
latter  case  usually  is  a  sign  of  shiftlessness  on  the 
part  of  the  owner.  The  stem  is  very  branching  and 
grows  to  heights  of  from  2  to  7  feet.  The  four-petal- 
ed,  light  yellow  flowers  are  in  small  dense  clusters 
at  the  ends  of  the  branches;  a  trail  of  small,  erect 
seed-pods  is  left  in  the  wake  of  the  flowers  as  they 
continue  to  bloom  along  the  lengthening  stem.  The 
leaves  have  a  large  terminal,  notched  lobe  and  small- 
er lateral  ones. 

CHARLOCK;  FIELD  MUSTARD  (B.  arvensis)  has  . 
slightly  larger  flowers  (over  one  half  inch  broad),  the 
seed  pods  are  much  longer  (nearly  two  inches)  and 
do  not  hug  the  stem  as  closely;  the  outline  of  the 
seeds  is  plainly  visible  in  the  pods.  The  leaves  are 
notched  but  not  divided  nearly  as  much  as  those  of 
the  Common  or  Black  Mustard.  It  is  very  common, 
as  an  obnoxious  weed,  everywhere  and  was  also  in- 
troduced into  this  country  from  Europe. 

HEDGE  MUSTARD  (Sisymbrium  o  ffi  c  i  n  a  I  e  ) 
(EUROPEAN).  This  is  also  a  common  weed,  brought 
from  Europe,  that  keeps  the  thrifty  farmer  everlast- 
ingly busy  trying  to  exterminate  it.  It  has  tiny,  four- 
petalled  yellow  flowers  that  bloom  all  summer,  along 
the  lengthening  stem,  and  leaves  numerous  tiny  pods 
closely  set  against  the  stem.  The  leaves  are  more 
angular  and  more  finely  divided  than  those  of  the 
Common  Mustard. 


PITCHER  PLANT. 
Sarracenia  purpurea. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         145 

PITCHER   PLANT   FAMILY    (Sarraceniaceae) 

A  small  family  of  bog-inhabiting  plants  having  hol- 
low pitcher-formed  or  trumpet-shaped  leaves. 

PITCHER  PLANT;  HUNTSMAN'S  CUP  (Sarracen- 

ia  purpurea).  Few  plants  are  as  little  known,  general- 
ly as  this  species.  It  is  one  of  the  most  interesting 
ones  that  we  have.  The  shapes  of  both  the  leaves  and 
blossoms  are  clearly  shown  in  the  opposite  picture.  The 
pitchers,  or  basal  leaves,  may  number  from  three  to  a 
dozen,  all  radiating  from  the  root  and  all  with  the 
orifice  up.  An  examination  shows  that  each  pitcher 
is  partially  filled  with  water.  Just  below  the  rim  of 
the  leaf,  on  the  inside,  is  a  sticky  substance  to  at- 
tract insects;  as  these  enter,  they  pass  downwards 
over  countless  little  hairs,  all  pointing  downwards. 
These  make  it  very  difficult  for  insects  to  crawl  out 
of  the  pitcher,  and  many  of  them  become  exhausted 
and  are  drowned  in  the  water.  As  these  insects  de- 
compose, they  are  absorbed  by  the  plant.  On  ac- 
count of  its  killing  insects  and  afterwards  devouring 
them  by  absorption,  the  Pitcher  Plant  is  often  class- 
ed as  a  carnivorous  species. 

Pitcher  Plants  grow  in  boggy  places,  where  Spag- 
num  Moss  abounds;  of  course  such  places  may  be- 
come quite  dry  during  the  summer.  This,  however, 
does  not  discommode  the  plant  in  the  least,  as  it 
carries  its  reservoir  with  it.  In  cold  weather  we  find 
the  pitchers  with  the  water  frozen  within  them. 

No  less  peculiar  is  the  flower  of  this  plant,  a  sin- 
gle blossom,  borne  on  a  long,  hollow,  erect  scape,  dur- 
ing May  and  June.  The  five  sepals  are  thick  and  pur- 
plish; the  delicate  hanging  petals  are  dull  pink;  the 
pistil  is  umbrella-like  and  surrounded  by  numerous 
stamens.  The  Pitcher  Plant  is  local  in  bogs  from 
Labrador  to  Manitoba  and  southwards. 

10 


A.     THREAD-LEAVED  SUNDEW. 

Drosera  filiformis. 

B.     ROUND-LEAVED  SUNDEW. 

Drosera  rotundifolia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         147 

SUNDEW    FAMILY    (Droseraceae). 

A  small  family  of  insectivorous  plants  found  in 
bogs  or  moist  sandy  soil. 

THREAD-LEAVED  SUNDEW  (Drosera  filiformis) 
has  long,  linear,  film-like,  erect,  very  hairy  leaves. 
The  flowers  are  numerous  and  loosely  racemed  at  the 
top  of  a  slender  smooth  scape;  they  have  five,  small, 
purple  petals,  five  stamens  and  several  2-parted  stig- 
mas. The  flowers  open  only  in  the  sunshine  and 
bloom  towards  the  top  of  the  scape,  where  a  number 
of  undeveloped  buds  droop.  This  species  is  found  in 
wet  sandy  soil  from  New  England  to  Delaware,  not 
far  from  the  coast. 

ROUND-LEAVED  SUNDEW  (Drosera  rotundifolia) 
is  one  of  the  most  common  of  the  Sundews;  it  is 
found  in  moist,  sandy  or  peaty  soil  from  Labrador  to 
Alaska  and  south  to  Pa.  and  Cal.  The  leaves  are 
numerous,  quite  round,  and  on  long  stems  from  the 
root.  The  leaves  are  thickly  covered  with  hairy 
glands,  that  exude  drops  of  a  clear  glutinous  fluid, 
glistening  in  the  sunlight  like  little  drops  of  dew;  it 
is  from  these  that  the  plant  is  named.  These  dew- 
like  drops  deceive  insects  into  alighting  on  the  leaves, 
when  they  discover,  to  their  dismay,  that  they  are 
held  fast  prisoners  in  the  sticky  fluid.  Having  caught 
a  victim,  the  leaf  slowly  folds  about  it  and  more  slow- 
ly digests  it. 

The  flower  stalk  of  this  species  grows  from  5  to  9 
in.  high,  is  reddish  colored  and  often  has  one  or  two 
branches  at  the  top.  The  one  to  twenty  five  flowers 
that  it  has  during  the  flowering  season  are  white. 
They  open  but  one  or  two  at  a  time,  and  only  in  bright 
sunshine.  The  leaves,  and  also  the  short  rootstalk, 
have  rather  purplish  juices  that  stain  what  they  come 
in  contact  with.  While  they  are  small  and  inconspic- 
uous, one  will  find  it  well  worth  while  to  study  these 
plants. 


A.     GRASS  OF  PARNASSUS. 
Parnassia  caroliniana. 
B.     EARLY  SAXIFRAGE. 
Saxifraga  virginiensis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         149 
SAXIFRAGE    FAMILY    (Saxifragaceae). 

Herbs  or  shrubs  having  perfect  flowers,  usually 
with  five  petals,  and  either  opposite  or  alternate 
leaves.  The  seeds  have  copious  albumen,  which  sep 
arates  this  family  from  the  various  species  of  the 
Rose  Family. 

GRASS   OF   PARNASSUS    (Parnassia  caroliniana) 

is  a  pretty  little  swamp  or  meadow  plant  growing 
from  8  to  24  inches  high.  The  flowers  are  a  delicate 
creamy  white,  finely  veined  with  greenish,  and  borne 
singly  on  long  scapes;  a  single,  heart-shaped  leaf 
clasps  each  flower  scape  a  short  distance  above  its 
base.  The  basal  leaves  are  long-stemmed,  rather 
thick  and  coarse  in  texture,  smooth-edged  and 
bluntly  pointed. 

The  flowers  present  rather  an  unusual  appearance, 
both  because  of  the  veining  and  because  the  five  fer- 
tile stamens  alternate  with  the  petals,  leaving  the 
yellowish  anthers  located  just  at  the  angle,  formed 
where  the  petals  overlap.  We  find  this  species  in 
bloom  from  the  latter  part  of  June  until  the  end  of 
September,  most  abundantly  in  the  latter  month.  It 
ranges  from  Newfoundland  to  Manitoba,  south  to  Va. 
and  Mo. 

EARLY  SAXIFRAGE  (Saxifraga  virginiensis)  is  a 
tiny-flowered  plant  that  loves  dry,  sunny,  rocky  hill- 
sides; in  these  places  we  may  look  for  its  flowers 
during  March  and  April.  The  leaves  are  all  basal; 
spatulate  in  shape,  blunt  ended,  either  rough-edged 
or  toothed,  rather  coarse  in  texture,  narrowing  to- 
wards their  base  into  clasping  stems.  The  flower 
scapes  are  quite  stout,  hairy  and  rather  sticky;  the 
white  flowers,  in  loose  umbels  at  the  top,  are  small 
and  five  parted.  Saxifrage  is  common  from  N.  B.  to 
Minn,  south  to  Ga.  and  Tenn. 


A.        MlTREWORT. 

Mitella  diphylla. 

B.     FOAM  FLOWER;  FALSE  MITREWORT. 
Tiarella  cordifolia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         151 

MITREWORT  (Mitella  nuda)  is  a  tiny  woodland 
plant  that  might  readily  escape  our  notice  were  it  not 
for  the  peculiar  little  flowers.  These  are  few  in  num- 
ber, very  short-stemmed,  in  a  loose  raceme  at  the 
top  of  a  leafless,  slightly  hairy  scape  4  to  7  in.  high. 
The  flowers  have  five  petals,  each  with  the  edge 
beautifully  fringed  so  as  to  give  the  flower  a  crystal- 
line appearance  almost  like  a  snowflake.  The  leaves 
are  on  long,  hairy  stems  from  the  root;  they  are 
rounded  or  kidney-shaped  with  rough  or  lobed  edges. 

These  plants  are  often  called  "Bishops  Caps"  from 
the  cap-like  shape  of  the  little  seed  pods.  We  find 
this  species  from  Labrador  to  Saskatchewan,  south 
to  Ct.  and  Mich. 

TWO-LEAVED  MITREWORT  (Mitella  diphylla)  is 

a  larger  and  sturdier  species  with  similar  flowers,  but 
with  two  very  short-stemmed,  heart-shaped  leaves 
clasping  the  flower  stem  oppositely  about  halfway  up 
its  length.  The  stem  has  more  flowers  at  its  top  than 
the  last  species  and  is  taller,  ranging  from  8  to  16 
inches  high.  The  basal  leaves  are  heart-shaped,  with 
three  to  five  toothed  lobes.  This  species  is  found  in 
rich  woods  from  N.  E.  to  Minn.,  south  to  N.  C.  and 
Mo. 

FOAM   FLOWER;    FALSE  MITREWORT  (Tiarella 

cordifolia)  has  the  general  appearance  of  the  last 
species.  The  slender,  hairy  flower  scape,  rising  6  to 
12  in.  from  the  rootstalk,  has  at  the  top  a  loose  pan- 
icle of  many  small  flowers,  each, on  a  long  slender 
stem,  thus  differing  from  the  short-stemmed  flowers 
of  Mitella.  The  leaves  are  all  basal,  on  long  hairy 
stems;  heart-shaped,  lobed  and  toothed  and  often 
mottled  with  brownish.  The  flowers  have  five  petals 
and  ten  long  stamens  that  give  them  a  fuzzy  appear- 
ance. Foam  Flower  is  common  from  N.  S.  to  Minn., 
southwards,  flowering  in  May  and  June. 


A.     MEADOWSWEET. 

Spiraea  latifolia. 

B.     HARDACK;  STEEPLE  BUSH. 

Spiraea  tomentosa. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         153 

ROSE    FAMILY    (Rosaceae). 

This  is  a  very  large  family  made  up  of  trees,  shrubs 
and  herbs.  It  contains  some  of  our  most  valuable 
plants  and  fruit-bearing  trees  such  as  pear,  apple, 
strawberry,  blackberry,  etc.  The  flowers  are  all  reg- 
ular, have  five  petals,  five  sepals,  numerous  stamens, 
one  or  more  pistils,  and  an  abundance  of  nectar  and 
pollen.  They  supply  a  bounteous  feast  for  insects 
and  they  are  chiefly  fertilized  by  them. 

MEADOWSWEET  (Spiraea  salicifolia)  is  a  com- 
mon and  beautiful  shrub  that  grows  along  the  edges 
of  woods,  swamps  or  even  roadsides.  Its  handsome 
pyramidal  clusters  of  flowers  are  in  evidence  during 
July  and  August.  The  stem  is  straight,  slender, 
woody  and  yellowish  buff;  along  it,  at  close  intervals, 
alternate  the  lanceolate,  toothed,  short-stemmed 
leaves.  At  the  top  is  a  spire-like  panicle  of  fleecy 
flower  clusters.  Each  flower  has  five,  round,  white 
petals  and  numerous  long,  pink  stamens  that  give  the 
flowers  a  feathery  appearance  and  a  rosy  tint. 

Its  name  is  rather  misleading  for  the  flowers  are 
only  slightly  fragrant.  It  ranges  from  N.  Y.  to  Mo. 
and  southwards;  the  common  species  found  in  the 
New  England  states  is  specifically  known  as  latifolia. 
Its  leaves  are  thinner  and  the  stem  more  reddish. 

HARDHACK;    STEEPLEBUSH    (Spiraea    tomento- 

sa)  is  one  of  our  most  beautiful  flowering  shrubs. 
The  flower  spike  is  more  slender  and  steeple-like 
than  that  of  Meadowsweet  and  the  flowers  are  a 
beautiful  shade  of  pink.  The  flowers  bloom1  down- 
wards from  the  top  of  the  spike,  so  that  it  soon  as- 
sumes a  brownish  or  yellowish  tinge  at  the  top  of 
the  spire.  The  leaves  are  more  closely  alternated  and 
are  dark  green  above  and  lighter  below.  Steeple- 
bush  grows  in  low  ground  from  N.  B.  to  Minn,  and 
southwards. 


A.  WILD  STRAWBERRY. 
Fragraria  virginiana. 

B.  WILD  B-LACKBERRY. 
Rubus  allegheniensis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         155 

WILD  STRAWBERRY  (Fragraria  virginiana).  Any- 
one not  acquainted  with  the  Strawberry  in  its  wild 
state  has  our  sympathy  for  they  have  missed  one 
of  the  most  luscious  treats  that  Nature  has  provided. 
We  have,  after  years  of  cultivation,  increased  the 
size  of  the  berry  many  times,  it  is  true,  but  this  in- 
crease in  size  has  been  largely  at  the  expense  of  de- 
terioration in  flavor.  I  have  yet  to  see  the  cultivat- 
ed strawberry  that  is  comparable  to  the  wild  one  in 
this  respect. 

The  hairy  stems  of  both  leaves  and  flowers  rise  di- 
rectly from  the  running  rootstalk.  The  flowers,  sev- 
eral of  which  grow  on  each  stem,  are  wheel-shaped, 
have  five  rounded  white  petals  and  narrow  lanceolate 
greenish  sepals;  the  center  is  occupied  by  a  green 
cone-like  pistil  and  numerous  stamens  with  small 
yellow  anthers.  After  the  flowering  season,  the 
green  center  expands,  becomes  pulpy  and  finally 
turns  red  on  the  outer  surface;  the  numerous  seeds 
are  in  little  pits  provided  for  them  on  the  surface  of 
the  berry.  The  weight  of  the  berries  causes  the 
slender  peduncles  to  bend,  while  the  flowers  were 
erect. 

The  leaves  are  three-parted,  each  division  being 
spatulate  and  sharply  toothed  at  the  rounded  end. 
The  Wild  Strawberry  is  common  in  fields  and  pas- 
tures throughout  our  range. 

..HIGH  BUSH  BLACKBERRY  (Rubus  alleghenien- 
sis)  is  a  tall  branching  shrub  with  slender  brown 
stems,  from  three  to  ten  feet  long,  armed  with  stout, 
slightly  recurved  prickles.  It  is  from  this  species 
that  the  well  known  variety  was  developed.  The 
leaves  are  divided  into  three  to  five  ovate,  pointed, 
toothed  leaflets  with  a  ribbed  and  hairy  surface.  The 
flowers  have  five  green  sepals  alternating  with  the 
narrow  white  petals.  This  species  is  common  every- 
where. 


COMMON   CINQUEFOIL;   FIVE-FINGER. 

Potentilla  simplex. 

B.     SILVERY  CINQUEFOIL. 

Potentilla  argentea. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         157 

COMMON     CINQUEFOIL;     FIVE-FINGER     (Poten- 

tilla  canadensis).  This  species  is  the  most  common 
of  the  Five-fingers,  and  is  also  one  of  our  most  com- 
mon wild  flowers,  in  pastures  and  along  roadsides. 
It  has  a  long  period  of  bloom  and  flowers  may  be 
found  from  April  until  August.  It  is  often  mistaken 
for  the  Wild  Strawberry,  because  of  a  similarity  be- 
tween the  leaves  of  the  two  species,  although  those 
of  this  species  have  five  divisions  while  those  of  the 
Strawberry  have  but  three.  The  flowers  are  shaped 
like  those  of  the  Strawberry,  but  have  bright  yellow 
petals. 

The  flowers  are  solitary,  on  long,  slender  stems 
from  the  axils  of  the  leaves  near  the  ends  of  the 
trailing  branches,  that  grow  from  6  to  24  inches  long. 
This  species  is  very  common  in  the  United  States 
and  southern  Canada. 

SILVERY  CINQUEFOIL  (Potentilla  argentea)  is  a 
common  and  very  handsome  species  found  in  dry, 
barren  ground  throughout  our  range,  but  most  abun- 
dantly near  the  coast.  It  is  smaller  than  the  proceed- 
ing, being  from  5  to  12  in.  high.  The  little,  yellow 
flowers  are  clustered  at  the  ends  of  the  branches. 
The  stems  and  the  undersides  of  the  divided  and 
deeply  cut  leaves,  are  covered  with  fine,  white,  sil- 
very wool,  contrasting  sharply  with  the  dark  green 
of  the  upper  surfaces.  This  species  bloom  from  May 
until  September. 

SHRUBBY  CINQUEFOIL  (Potentilla  fructicosa)  is 
a  very  leafy  and  much  branched  Cinquefoil  growing 
from  six  inches  to  three  feet  high.  The  leaves  are  di- 
vided into  five  to  seven  narrow  leaflets,  with  a  smooth 
but  usually  rolled  edge;  they  are  lighter  below  but  not 
wooly  as  in  the  last  species.  The  stem  is  quite  erect, 
brownish  and  with  bark  often  peeling  off  in  shreds. 
The  yellow  flowers  may  be  solitary,  but  usually  are 
in  rather  flat-topped  clusters.  This  species  is  com- 
mon everywhere. 


A.     AGRIMONY. 
Agrimonia  gryposepala. 

B.     PURPLE   CINQUEFOIL;   MARSH   FIVE-FINGER. 
Potentilla  palustris. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         159 

MARSH     FIVE-FINGER;     PURPLE    CINQUEFOIL 

(Potentilla  palustris)  is  in  character  quite  like  the 
foregoing  species.  It  is  the  only  one,  however,  hav- 
ing purple  flowers,  and  is  easily  recognized  on  that 
account.  The  flowers  are  nearly  an  inch  broad,  larg- 
er than  those  of  the  other  Cinquefoils;  they  have  a 
large  calyx,  the  divisions  of  which  are  longer  than  the 
petals;  the  petals  are  also  pointed,  whereas  those  of 
the  other  species  are  rounded  or  else  wedge-shap- 
ed. 

The  stem  grows  from  6  to  20  inches  long  and  is 
rather  woody  at  the  base.  The  leaves  alternate 
along  the  stem,  as  is  customary  with  all  members 
of  the  Rose  family;  they  are  divided  into  five  or  sev- 
en, spatulate-shaped,  toothed  leaflets.  Purple  Cin- 
quefoil  grows  in  swamps  or  cool  bogs,  from  Labrador 
to  Alaska  and  south  to  N.  J.,  Pa.,  la.,  and  Cal.,  flow- 
ering during  July  and  August. 

AGRIMONY  (Agrimonia  gryposepala)  is  a  common 
weed  found  on  the  borders  of  swamps  or  thickets. 
It  has  a  tall,  hairy,  simple  stem  from  two  to  four 
feet  high.  The  bright  green  leaves  are  variously 
compounded,  from  three  small  leaflets  at  the  top  of 
the  stem  to  large  leaves  made  up  of  seven,  lance- 
shaped,  toothed  leaflets,  interspersed  with  smaller 
ones  on  the  lower  part  of  the  stalk. 

The  flowers  are  in  a  long,  many-flowered  spike  at 
the  top  of  the  stalk.  Each  flower  is  tiny,  has  five 
yellow  petals  and  numerous,  orange  stamens,  giv- 
ing the  spike  a  bright,  golden-yellow  appearance. 
They  open  from  the  bottom  of  the  spike,  towards 
the  top,  and  each  plant  is  in  bloom  for  a  long  period 
Our  ancestors  used  the  leaves  for  various  medicinal 
concoctions,  and  some  even  used  them  for  making 
tea.  It  is  a  common  plant  from  N.  B.  to  N.  C.  and 
westwards  to  Cal. 


A.     CREEPING  DALIBARDA. 

Dalibarda  repens. 

B.     YELLOW  AVENS. 

Geum  strictum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         l6l 

CREEPING    DALIBARDA    (Dalibarda   repens)    is  a 

delicate  woodland  plant,  found  from  N.  B.  to  Mani- 
toba and  south  to  N.  J.,  Ohio  and  Mich.  It  has  creep- 
ing, densely-tufted  rootstalks,  from  which  spring  num- 
erous heart-shaped  leaves  on  long  petioles;  these 
leaves,  their  stems  and  the  flower  stalks  are  downy, 
the  former  being  scallop-edged  or  toothed. 

Dalibarda  has  two  kinds  of  flowers:  The  first  on 
long,  upright  scapes  spread  about  half  an  inch,  have 
five  oval,  white  petals  and  many  stamens;  the  pet- 
als are  deciduous,  faling  off  soon  after  the  flower  op- 
ens. The  second  kind  of  flowers  are  cleistogamous 
ones  (fertilized  in  the  bud)  on  short  curving  pedun- 
cles from  the  root.  These  last  flowers  are  fertile, 
while  many  of  those  with  petals  are  not.  Dalibarda 
blooms  from  June  to  September  in  rich  woods;  when 
not  in  flower,  its  leaves  are  often  mistaken  for  those 
of  some  of  the  violets. 

YELLOW  AVENS  (Geum  strictum)  grows  in  moist 
locations  in  swamps  or  thickets.  The  texture  of  the 
whole  plant,  leaves  and  stems,  is  rough  and  coarse. 
The  root  leaves  are  interruptedly  pinnate,  the  seg- 
ments being  wedge-shaped  and  toothed;  the  stem 
leaves  have  three  to  five  oblong,  acute,  toothed  leaf- 
lets. The  flowers  have  quite  large  golden-yellow  pet- 
als and  a  downy  receptacle.  This  species  is  common 
from  Newfoundland  to  Manitoba  and  south  to  N.  C. 
and  Mo. 

PURPLE  AVENS  (Geum  rivale)  is  an  aquatic  or 
marsh  species  with  lyre-shaped  root  leaves  and  few, 
3-lobed  stem  leaves.  The  nodding  flowers  have  rus- 
ty-purple petals  terminating  in  a  claw;  the  calyx  is 
purplish  and  bell-shaped.  The  flower  stalk  is  from 
one  to  two  feet  in  height.  Purple  or  Water  Avens 
is  common  in  northern  U.  S.  and  southern  Canada. 

11 


WILD  SWAMP  ROSE. 
Rosa  Carolina. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         163 

SWAMP  ROSE  (Rosa  Carolina).  Wild  roses  are 
very  common  throughout  our  range  and,  of  course, 
are  familiar  to  everyone.  They  are  usually,  and  right- 
ly regarded  as  one  of  our  most  beautiful  wild  flow- 
ers. They  have  a  purity  of  form  and  color  that  is 
rarely  seen  in  the  many  varieties  that  man  has  cul- 
tivated from  them.  The  Swamp  Rose  is  a  very  bushy 
species,  growing  from  one  to  nine  feet  high.  It  is 
very  common  on  the  edges  of  swamps  or  streams, 
and  in  low  ground,  throughout  our  range.  The  com- 
pound leaf  is  made  up  of  five  to  nine,  lance-shaped, 
toothed  leaflets;  each  leaf  has  a  pair  of  stipules,  or 
tiny  leaves,  at  the  junction  of  the  slender  stem  with 
main  stalk. 

The  flowers  are  two  or  three  inches  broad  and  have 
numerous  yellow  stamens  radiating  from  the  green- 
ish-white center.  The  stem  of  the  Swamp  Rose  is 
sparingly  armed  with  stout,  wide-based,  curved 
thorns. 

PASTURE  ROSE  (Rosa  humilis)  is  the  most  abun- 
dant of  all  our  wrild  roses  and  grows  in  profusion  in 
all  dry,  rocky  places.  It  does  not  grow  as  high  as  the 
Swamp  Rose,  rarely  exceeding  three  feet  in  height, 
but  the  slender  stems  are  more  branching  and  often 
grow  in  large,  tangled  masses  that,  in  the  height  of 
the  blooming  season,  are  exceedingly  beautiful.  The 
flowers  are  about  the  same  size  as  those  of  the 
Swamp  Rose,  but  are  usually  solitary  at  the  ends  of 
the  branches. 

The  leaves  are  dark  green,  without  gloss,  divided 
into  five  or  seven  ovate,  sharply-pointed,  irregular- 
ly-toothed leaflets.  The  stem  is  armed  with  straight, 
slender,  light  brown  thorns  or  prickles,  two  of  which 
are  set  oppositely  on  the  stem  at  its  junctions  with 
the  leaf  stems.  These  sharp  thorns  often  discourage 
plucking  wild  roses,  and  the  petals  soon  fall  or  are 
broken  off,  so  that  they  are  little  used  for  vases. 


SWEETBRIER;   EGLANTINE. 
Rosa  rubiginosa. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         165 

SWEETBRIER;     EGLANTINE     (Rosa    rubiginosa) 

is  a  very  beautiful  species  of  wild  rose  introduced 
from  Europe.  We  may  find  it  blooming  quite  com- 
monly in  dry,  rocky  pastures  and  waste  places  dur- 
ing June  and  July.  It  is  remarkable  for  and  easily 
identified  by,  the  sweet-scented,  aromatic  fragrance 
of  its  leaves.  The  stems  are  long  and  arching,  grow- 
ing from  two  to  six  feet  in  height;  they  are  brown 
and  are  armed  at  frequent  intervals  with  short,  de- 
cidedly recurved  thorns  or  prickles. 

At  regular  intervals  along  the  stem,  are  close-set, 
compact  clusters  of  flowers  and  leaves.  The  leaves 
are  made  up  of  five  or  seven  very  small  leaflets, 
rounded-ovate  in  form  and  with  the  edge  finely 
double-toothed,  and  covered  beneath  with  fine,  sticky, 
glandular  hairs  .  The  flowers  are  also  quite  small, 
especially  when  compared  to  the  very  common  Pas- 
ture and  Swamp  Roses,  being  only  from  one  to  two 
inches  in  diameter.  They  are  rather  light  colored, 
a  creamy-pink,  and  have  five,  heart-shaped  petals, 
the  ends  being  slightly  notched;  the  numerous,  curv- 
ing stamens  are  a  bright  yellow.  All  of  the  roses 
have  quite  large  fruit,  red  in  color  and  with  the 
ends  of  the  sepals  spreading  from  its  apex;  that  of 
the  present  species  is  ovoid  in  shape.  Eglantine  is 
found  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Michigan  and  southwards 
to  Virginia  and  Tenn. 

SMOOTH  ROSE  (Rosa  blanda)  is  a  species  that  is 
often  wholly  unarmed  with  prickles.  The  stem  and 
the  underside  of  the  leaves  are  covered  with  a  light 
bloom.  The  pale  crimson-pink  flowers  measure  near- 
ly three  inches  across.  The  red  fruit  is  either  round 
or  pear-shaped,  with  persistent  sepals. 

The  Smooth  Rose  has  a  very  northerly  distribution. 
It  is  found  in  rocky  places  from  Newfoundland  and 
nothern  New  England  westwards,  chiefly  along  the 
shores  of  the  Great  Lakes. 


A.     WILD  LUPINE. 

Lupinus  perennis. 

B.     BLUE  FALSE  INDIGO. 

Baptisia  australis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         167 
PULSE   FAMILY    (Leguminosae). 

A  very  large  and  valuable  family  of  plants,  many 
of  them  being  food-producing.  Usually  they  have 
papilionaceous  flowers,  that  is,  with  a  standard,  keel 
and  wings.  The  family  is  divided  into  three  sub- 
families containing  53  genera. 

WILD  OR  BLUE  LUPINE  (Lupinus  perennis)  re- 
ceives its  generic  name  from  the  Latin  of  wolf,  be- 
cause it  was  thought  that  the  species  preyed  upon  the 
soil  and  made  it  infertile  for  other  kinds  of  plants.  It 
is  a  very  common  species  in  sandy  places  and  we  of- 
ten see  it  on  the  banks  along  railroads.  Both  the 
leaves  and  the  flowers  are  very  attractive.  The  stem 
is  quite  stout,  erect,  hairy  and  branching.  The  leaves 
have  long,  slender  stems;  the  leaf,  proper,  is  palmate- 
ly-divided  into  seven  to  eleven  narrow,  smooth-edg- 
ed leaflets  that  radiate  like  the  spokes  of  a  wheel; 
they  are  rather  thin  and  delicate  in  structure  and  at 
night  partly  fold  together. 

The  flowers  are  in  long,  showy,  terminal  spikes  of 
pea-like  blossoms;  they  are  bright  purplish-  blue  in 
color;  the  calyx  is  two-lipped,  sides  of  the  standard 
reflexed  and  the  keel  scythe-shaped.  The  single  pis- 
til developes  into  an  oblong,  flattened,  knotty  pod 
containing  the  seeds.  Lupine  is  very  common 
through  the  United  States,  east  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. 

BLUE  FALSE  INDIGO  (Baptisia  australis)  is  a  tall 
branching  species  with  a  stem  from  three  to  six  feet 
in  height.  The  leaves  are  divided  into  three  spat- 
ulate-shaped  leaflets.  The  violet-blue  flowers  grow 
in  long,  loose  spikes;  they  are  about  one  inch  long, 
have  a  four  or  five-toothed  calyx,  straight  keel  and 
wings,  and  short  standard.  The  seed-pod  has  a  spur 
at  its  tip.  This  species  is  common  from  Pa.  to  Ga. 
and  west  to  Mo. 


A.     WILD  INDIGO. 

Baptisia  tinctoria. 

B.     RATTLEBOX. 

C  rot  alarm  sagittalis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         169 

WILD  INDIGO  (Baptisia  tinctoria)  is  a  very 
branchy  and  very  bushy  herb.  The  stem  divides 
soon  after  it  leaves  the  ground,  the  slender  branch- 
lets  extending  equally  in  all  directions  so  that  the 
appearance  of  the  whole  plant,  from  a  distance,  is 
often  that  of  a  large,  bluish-green  globe.  The  leaves 
are  three-parted,  wedge-shaped,  dull  green  with  a 
white  bloom  that  gives  them  a  bluish-green  appear- 
ance. The  yellow,  butterfly-shaped  flowers  are  in 
loose  clusters  at  the  ends  of  all  the  branches.  They 
are  visited  by  many  of  the  small  butterflies  and  small 
bees.  After  fertilization,  the  flowers  turn  blackish. 

The  roots  of  Wild  Indigo  are  used  by  drug  concerns 
for  the  compounding  of  a  number  of  medicines.  An 
indigo  dye,  of  a  poor  quality,  can  also  be  made  from 
the  plant.  Wild  Indigo  grows  in  dry  or  sandy  soil 
from  Maine  to  Minnesota,  flowering  from  June  to  Sep- 
tember. 

RATTLEBOX  (Crotalaria  sagittalis)  receives  its 
name  because  the  seeds  rattle  about  in  the  large, 
inflated,  blackish,  seed-pod.  It  is  an  annual  herb, 
with  a  hairy,  bending  stem  and  stemless,  toothless, 
pointed-oval  leaves  alternating  along  it.  The  yellow, 
pea-like  flowers  are  in  small  clusters  at  the  ends  of 
the  branches.  It  is  found  in  sandy  soil,  chiefly  along 
the  coast,  from  Mass,  to  Fla.  and  Texas  and,  in  the 
Mississippi  basin,  to  Indiana  and  South  Dakota. 

PRAIRIE  CLOVER    (Petalostemum   purpureum)   is 

an  upright  perennial  herb,  with  the  smooth  stem 
crowded  with  leaves,  compounded  of  five,  narrowly- 
linear  leaflets.  The  flowers  are  small  and  crowded  in 
dense  terminal  spikes;  they  are  purple  or  rose-  color- 
ed, have  a  small  standard  and  four  petals  on  thread- 
like claws.  It  is  found  on  dry  prairies  west  of  the 
Mississippi. 


B. 


A.     GOAT^S  RUE  ;  CATGUT. 
Tephrosia  virginiana. 
B.     PARTRIDGE  PEA. 
Cassia  Chamaecrista. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         171 

GOATS    RUE;    CAT    GUT    (Tephrosia   virginiana). 

We  find  this  her-b  in  most  all  dry,  sandy,  waste  places 
from  N.  H.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

It  is  a  pea-like  plant  with  a  simple,  silky-haired, 
erect  stem,  leafy  to  the  top  where  it  terminates  in  a 
dense  raceme  or  panicle  of  yellowish-white  flowers 
marked  with  purple.  The  flowers  are  large  and  num- 
erous; they  have  a  rounded  standard,  but  little  long- 
er than  the  wings  and  keel.  The  long  leaves  are  com- 
pounded of  seventeen  to  twenty-nine  linear-oblong 
leaflets.  Its  roots  are  long,  very  slender  and  very 
tough;  it  is  from  these  qualities  of  the  roots  that  the 
plant  receives  its  common  names. 

PARTRIDGE    PEA    (Cassia    Chamaecrista)      is      a 

handsome  species  with  large,  showy,  yellow  flowers 
measuring  about  1  1-4  inches  across;  on  slender  ped 
icels  from  the  angles  of  the  leaves,  usually  either  sing- 
ly or  in  pairs;  often  the  five,  large,  rounded  petals 
have  purplish  spots  at  their  bases;  after  flowering, 
long  erect  seed  pods  are  left  in  the  place  of  each  of 
the  blossoms. 

The  leaves  of  the  Partridge  Pea  are  long  and  com- 
pounded of  20-30  small,  blunt,  lance-shaped  leaflets, 
each  with  a  tiny  awl-like  point.  The  stem  is  erect, 
rather  smooth,  and  grows  one  or  two  feet  tall.  We 
find  this  plant  in  dry  or  sandy  fields  throughout  the 
United  States. 

WILD    SENSITIVE    PLANT    (Cassia    nictitans)    is 

quite  similar  but  much  taller.  The  flowers  are  small 
and  on  short  stems,  in  groups  of  two  or  three  at  the 
bases  of  the  leaves.  The  leaves  are  compounded  of 
10-20  small  leaflets,  less  than  3-4  inches  long;  they 
are  very  sensitive  and  close,  or  fold  together,  at  night, 
or  in  the  daytime  if  handled  roughly.  It  is  found 
from  Me.  to  Pla,  and  west  to  Nebr.  and  Tex. 


A.      RABBIT-FOOT   CLOVER;  STONE   CLOVER. 

Trifolium  arvense. 

B.      RED  CLOVER. 

Trifolium  pratense. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         173 

RABBIT-FOOT  CLOVER;  STONE  CLOVER  (Tri- 
folium  arvense)  (EUROPEAN).  It  is  not  always  the 
largest,  brightest  colored  and  showiest  flowers  that 
are  the  most  beautiful;  the  present  species  has  a 
graceful,  charming,  silky  beauty  that  places  it  far  in 
advance  of  many  'of  its  brighter  colored  companions 
in  the  field.  Yet,  how  often  are  its  fuzzy  heads  pass- 
ed by  as  weeds  unworthy  of  notice.  It  is  because  of 
this  silky,  fuzziness  that  it  receives  its  name  of 
Rabbit-foot,  and  from  the  fact  that  it  often  grows 
in  stony  or  rocky  fields  that  it  has  been  given  its 
second  name. 

The  stalk  of  this  species  is  soft,  silky  and  from  4 
to  10  inches  high.  The  light  green  leaves  have  three 
leaflets  with  blunt  tips.  The  flower  heads  are  com- 
posed of  numerous  florets ;  it  is  the  long,  pink,  feath- 
ery tips  of  the  five-parted  calyx  that  gives  the  blos- 
som its  silky  fuzziness;  it  is  quite  fragrant  and  is  vis- 
ited by  the  smallest  butterflies.  .You  may  find  this 
species  everywhere  within  our  range. 

RED  CLOVER  (Trifolium  pratense)  is  the  most 
common  and  the  most  valuable  species  of  clover. 
One  would  hardly  believe,  knowing  how  abundant  it 
is  in  all  parts  of  our  range,  that  this  clover  could  have 
been  introduced  and  have  become  so  widely  distri- 
buted, yet  such  is  the  case.  One  reason  that  it  does 
so  well  in  this  country  is  that  we  have  a  very  large 
number  of  bumblebees,  and  it  has  been  found  that 
clover  is  so  dependent  upon  these  insects  for  fertili- 
zation, that,  without  them,  it  will  soon  die  out. 

The  little  florets,  composing  the  globular  flower- 
head,  are  bright  crimson-pink;  they  abound  in  nec- 
tar and  are  sweet-scented.  The  three  leaflets  that 
make  up  each  leaf,  have  whitish-green  triangles  in 
the  middle.  The  plant  stems  are  hairy  and  from*8 
to  24  inches  high. 


A.  ALSIKE  CLOVER. 
Trifolium  hybridum. 

B.  WHITE  CLOVER. 
Trifolium  repens. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         175 

ALSIKE  or  ALSATIAN  CLOVER  (Trifolium  hy- 
bridum)  (EUROPEAN)  is  quite  similar  to  our  native 
white  Clover,  but  the  stem  is  stout,  branching  and 
juicy.  The  trifoliate  leaves  of  this  species  are  un- 
marked and  have  a  simple,  rounded  end,  not  notched, 
but  the  edge  of  the  leaf  is  very  finely  toothed;  they 
have  long  slender  stems,  with  stipules  where  they 
join  the  stalk.  The  florets  composing  the  round 
flower-heads  are  cream-colored,  tinged  with  pink; 
they  are  very  fragrant  and  laden  with  nectar.  The  low- 
er florets  on  the  head  bloom  first;  after  they  have 
been  fertilized,  they  turn  brown,  and  are  reflexed,  so 
that  towards  the  end  of  the  flowering  season,  the 
flowers  have  a  very  disheveled  appearance,  the  lower 
part  being  dead  and  drooping,  while  the  upper  is 
fresh,  pink  and  erect. 

This  species  is  now  common  throughout  our  range, 
flowering  from  May  to  October  in  meadows,  waste 
places  or  along  roadsides. 

WHITE  CLOVER  (Trifolium  repens)  is  the  most 
common  of  the  white  clovers.  It  is  supposed  to  be 
indigenous  in  the  northern  parts  of  our  range.  It 
is  highly  prized  as  forage  for  cattle  and  is  often  cul- 
tivated in  fields  for  that  purpose.  It  is  also  a  fav- 
orite with  keepers  of  bees,  for  it  is  very  rich  in  nec- 
tar and  they  claim  that  it  makes  a  better  quality  of 
honey  than  any  other. 

Its  stems  are  smooth,  reclining  and  4  to  10  inches 
long;  they  creep  by  runners.  The  leaves  are  com- 
posed of  three  leaflets,  heart-shaped  or  notched  at  the 
ends,  and  usually  with  a  more  or  less  distinct  tri- 
angular mark  in  the  middle.  This  is  the  species  that 
furnishes  the  prized  "4-leaved  clovers"  that  children 
so  dearly  love  to  find,  and  that  are  supposed  to  sig- 
nify "good  luck".  The  flowers  are  creamy  white, 
slightly  pinkish  and  very  fragrant. 


A.      YELLOW  CLOVER;  HOP  CLOVER. 

Tri folium  agrarium. 

B.     YELLOW  MELILOT;  SWEET  CLOVER. 

Melilotus  officinalis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         177 

YELLOW  CLOVER;  HOP  CLOVER  (Trifolium  ag- 
rarium)  (EUROPEAN).  This  clover,  that  came  to 
our  shores,  long  ago,  from  across  the  water,  is  very 
common  in  the  eastern  half  of  the  United  States  and 
southern  Canada;  we  find  it  growing  most  abundant- 
ly along  roadsides  and  in  dry  or  sandy  fields. 

The  stem  is  quite  smooth,  slender,  erect  and 
slightly  branching  and  grows  from  6  to  15  inches 
high.  The  leaves  have  very  short  stems,  in  fact 
they  are  practically  seated  on  the  stalk;  the  lower 
ones  have  large  stipules  at  their  bases;  they  are  thin 
and  soft  and  have  fine,  feather-veining  on  each  of 
the  three  small  leaflets  making  up  the  leaf. 

The  flowers  grow  singly,  or  in  clusters  of  two  or 
three,  at  the  ends  of  the  branches.  The  flower  head 
is  oblong,  densely  crowded  with  small,  golden-yel- 
low florets,  having  an  alternate,  scaly  arrangement. 
They  bloom  from  the  bottom  of  the  head,  upwards 
and,  as  they  mature,  turn  yellowish-brown  and  are 
reflexed,  resembling  dried  hops.  Several  stalks  may 
spring  from  a  single  root,  so  that  the  plant  sometimes 
has  quite  a  bushy  appearance.  Its  flowering  season 
is  from  June  until  September. 

LOW  HOP  CLOVER  (Trifolium  procumbens)  (EU- 
ROPEAN) is  a  very  similar  species  with  a  low, 
spreading,  branching  stem  and  with  the  three  leaflets, 
notched  at  the  ends  and  the  middle  one  with  a  short 
stem.  It  is  a  common  species  throughout  our  range. 

YELLOW  MELILOT;  YELLOW  SWEET  CLOVER 
(Melilotus  officinalis)  (EUROPEAN)  is  a  common, 
weed-like  plant  found  everywhere  in  waste  places. 
The  stem  is  tall  and  branching,  growing  from  2  to  4 
feet  high.  The  leaves  are  trifoliate,  each  leaflet  be- 
ing finely  toothed  and  the  middle  one  having  a  short 
stem  with  a  double  bend.  The  yellow,  clover-like 
florets  are  in  long,  loose  racemes,  terminating  the 
branches;  they  have  a  sweet  fragrance. 

12 


A.     ALFALFA;  LUCERNE. 

Medicago  sativa. 

B.     Cow  VETCH. 

Ficia  Cracca. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         179 

ALFALFA;  LUCERNE  (Medicago  sativa)  (EUR- 
OPEAN) is  found  growing  wild  in  waste  places  or 
fields  most  anywhere  in  our  range.  It  makes  an  ex- 
cellent fodder  for  cattle  and  will  grow  in  waste, 
sandy  places  where  it  is  impossible  to  raise  crops  of 
hay. 

Our  Government  has  devoted  considerable  atten- 
tion to  the  cultivation  of  this  species  and  it  is  now 
extensively  raised  in  the  Southern  and  Western 
States,  where  thousands  of  tons  are  annually  harvest- 
ed and  stored  for  the  needs  of  livestock. 

The  stalk  is  smooth,  slender,  branching  and  erect; 
it  grows  from  1  to  2  feet  high.  The  leaves  are  three- 
parted,  on  long  slender  stems  with  narrow  stipules 
at  their  bases;  each  of  the  three  leaflets  has  a  tiny, 
sharp  bristle  at  its  end,  and  the  middle  one  has  a 
short,  slender  stem  with  a  distinct  double  bend.  The 
purple  flowers  grow  in  short,  loose  racemes  at  the 
ends  of  the  slender  branches;  the  seed-pod  is  cur- 
iously twisted  or  coiled  and  contains  several  seeds. 

COW  VETCH;  BLUE  VETCH  (Vicia  Cracca)  is  a 
trailing  herb  with  a  weak,  angled  stem;  it  is  common 
on  the  borders  of  thickets  or  the  edges  of  cultivated 
fields.  The  stem  grows  from  two  to  three  feet  long 
and  climbs  over  grass  or  low  brush  by  means  of 
small,  slender  tendrils  at  the  ends  of  the  leaves. 

The  compound  leaves  are  made  up  of  twenty  to 
thirty  small,  oval  leaflets,  each  tipped  with  a  tiny, 
sharp-pointed  bristle.  The  light  violet-colored,  bean- 
like  flowers  grow  in  a  one-sided  raceme  on  slender 
stalks  from  the  angles  of  the  terminating  leaves  of 
the  branching,  hairy  stem.  The  flowers  are  reflexed, 
that  is,  they  point  downwards  on  their  stem. 

Several  other  species  of  Vetch  have  been  intro- 
duced and  are  quite  common,  chief  of  which  is  the 
Common  Vetch  (V.  sativa)  which  has  fewer  leaflets 
and  flowers  in  pairs. 


A.     GROUND  NUT;  WILD  BEAN. 

Apios  tuberosa. 

B.     HOG  PEANUT. 

Amphicarpa  monoica. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         181 

GROUND  NUT;   WILD  BEAN    (Apios  tuberosa)   is 

an  exceedingly  beautiful  climbing  vine,  attaining 
lengths  of  four  or  five  feet,  crawling  over  walls  or 
fences,  or  twisting  itself  about  shrubs  or  other  plants. 
Its  pear-shaped,  tuberous  root  is  edible,  as  every 
country  boy  knows. 

While  it  does  not  prey  upon  plants  by  sucking 
their  juices,  as  some  of  the  climbing,  twining  vines 
do,  this  species  sometimes  entwines  itself  so  tightly 
about  its  supporting  plant  as  to  retard  the  latter's 
growth  or  even  to  kill  it.  One  of  the  most  unique 
floral  sights,  that  I  recall,  is  that  of  many  large 
Tiger  Lilies,  with  their  tall  stout  stalks  entwined 
with  the  present  species,  and  each  of  them  in  full 
flower. 

The  leaves  of  the  Ground  Nut  are  compounded  of 
five,  or  sometimes  seven,  ovate-pointed  leaflets;  they 
are  toothless,  smooth  and  light  green.  The  flowers 
grow  in  dense,  rounded  clusters  on  slender  stalks 
from  between  the  angles  of  the  leaves  and  the  plant 
stem;  they  are  maroon  or  lilac-brown,  -have  very 
broad,  reflexed  standards  and  long  scythe-shaped 
keels,  strongly  incurved  or  coiled.  The  flowers  have 
a  very  rich  coloring,  different  from  that  of  any  other 
species  that  I  have  ever  seen.  We  find  the  Ground 
Nut  in  bloom  during  August  and  September  in  damp 
ground,  usually  on  the  borders  of  swamps  or  wet 
meadows,  from  N.  B.  to  Minn,  and  southwards  to  the 
Gulf. 

WILD  or  HOG  PEANUT  (Amphicarpa  monoica)  is 
a  dainty,  trailing  vine  2  to  7  feet  long.  The  delicate, 
light  green  leaves  are  thrice  compounded,  on  slender 
stems  from  the  angles  of  which  are  small,  drooping 
clusters  of  magenta-lilac  blossoms.  Other  fruitful 
blossoms  at  the  base  of  the  plant  develop  into  pear- 
shaped  pods  with  single  large  seeds.  From  the  fact 
that  hogs  used  to  root  up  and  eat  these,  came  the 
rather  inappropriate  name. 


A.  COMMON  FLAX. 
Linum  usitatissimum. 

B.  YELLOW  FLAX. 
Linum  virginianum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         183 
FLAX  FAMILY   (Linaceae). 

A  small  family  of  slender  herbs;  very  valuable,  as 
they  furnish  the  flax  from  which  all  linen  is  made 
and  many  valuable  medicinal  remedies. 

WILD  YELLOW  FLAX  (Linum  virginianum)  is  a 
slender  perennial  species  with  a  smooth  stem  from 
one  to  two  feet  in  height;  it  branches  slightly  near 
the  summit,  each  branch  bearing  at  its  end  a  few  tiny 
yellow  flowers,  less  than  a  half  inch  across.  The 
flowers  have  a  calyx  divided  into  five  sepals,  a  corolla 
of  five  petals,  five  stamens  and  pistils,  perfect  and 
symmetrical  flowers  fertilized  by  small  bees  and  bee- 
like  flies.  The  small  leaves  are  thin  and  have  but  one 
rib.  This  species  may  be  found  in  dry  woodland  and 
thickets  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards  to  Ga. 

COMMON  FLAX  (Linum  usutatissimum)  (EURO- 
PEAN). This  slender  species  is  more  attractive  than 
the  last  because  of  its  larger  flowers.  The  stem  is 
very  slender,  from  one  to  two  feet  in  height,  and  each 
of  its  few  branches  are  terminated  with  one  or  two 
delicate,  violet-blue  flowers;  these  measure  about 
three  quarters  of  an  inch  broad,  or  slightly  more,  the 
five  petals  being  large,  broad  and  slightly  over-lap- 
ping. Small,  alternate,  sharp-pointed  leaves  are 
thickly  crowded  on  the  stem;  they  have  three,  longi- 
tudinal ribs. 

This  is  the  species  that  is  cultivated  very  exten- 
sively in  Europe,  and  less  so  in  this  country,  for  its 
linen  fibre  and  its  seed  oil,  both  of  which  have  a  very 
extensive  commercial  use.  It  may  be  found  along 
roadsides  or  railroads  or  in  waste  places  anywhere, 
usually  as  an  escape  from  cultivation. 

Linum  striatum  has  tiny  yellow  flowers  crowded  on 
the  stiff,  angular  branches.  The  leaves  grow  oppo- 
sitely. It  is  found  in  wet  woods  or  on  sandy  shores 
from  Mass,  to  Ga.  and  west  to  Tex. 


A.     WOOD  SORREL. 

Oxalis  acetosella. 

B.     VIOLET  WOOD  SORREL. 

Oxalis  violacea. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         185 

WOOD  SORREL   FAMILY    (Oxalidaceae). 
A  small  family  of  low,  recumbent  herbs  with  trifoli- 
ate leaves  and  perfect,  regular  flowers. 

WHITE  WOOD  SORREL  (Oxalis  Acetosella)  is 
one  of  the  most  delicate  and  dainty  of  our  woodland 
flowers.  It  is  commonly  found  in  cool,  damp  situa- 
tions and  is  very  partial  to  mountainous  regions.  The 
flowers  are  very  frail  looking,  about  an  inch  broad, 
borne  on  long  slender  peduncles  from  the  root;  the 
five,  spreading  petals  are  white,  veined  with  crimson, 
giving  the  flower  a  delicate  pinkish  blush.  The  leaves 
are  also  on  long,  slender  petioles  from  the  root;  they 
are  trifoliate  or  clover-like,  each  of  the  three  leaflets 
being  inversely  heart-shaped, — that  is,  with  the  end 
notched  and  with  two  rounded  lobes.  White  Wood 
Sorrel  is  found  from  N.  S.  to  Saskatchewan  and 
south  to  N.  E.,  N.  Y.  and  in  mountains  to  N.  C. 

VIOLET    WOOD    SORREL    (Oxalis   violacea)    is   a 

very  dainty  species,  perhaps  more  beautiful  than  the 
preceding.  The  long  slender  flower  stalks  bear  at 
their  summits  three  or  more  pale  magenta  flowers, 
while  those  of  the  last  species  have  but  one.  The 
flowers  are  very  similar  except  in  color,  but  are  a 
trifle  smaller  than  those  of  the  white  species. 

The  leaves  of  both  these  sorrels  are  very  sensitive 
and  fold  up,  if  handled;  they  also  close  at  dusk  and 
only  open  when  the  suns  rays  beam  on  them  the  fol- 
lowing morning.  The  juices  of  these  plants  are  very 
acid;  the  well  known  Oxalic  acid  is  obtained  from  the 
leaves  of  both  these  kinds  of  sorrel. 

These  Sorrels  bear  cleistogamous  flowers  at  their 
bases, — that  is,  flowers  that  fertilize  themselves  in 
the  bud  and  never  open.  The  roots  are  perennial, 
creeping  and  scaly-toothed. 


YELLOW  WOOD  SORREL. 
Oxalis  stricta. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         187 

YELLOW  WOOD  SORREL;  LADY'S  SORREL  (Ox- 

alis  corniculata)  is  not  a  woodland  plant  but  is 
very  common  along  roadsides,  in  gardens,  dooryards 
and  fields.  The  pale  green,  slender  stem  is  quite 
erect,  branches  but  little,  if  at  all,  and  grows  from 
three  to  twelve  inches  tall.  The  leaves  are  long- 
stemmed  and  trifoliate,  the  three  leaflets  being  broad- 
ly heart-shaped.  They  are  very  sensitive  and  close 
if  roughly  handled.  They  also  close  at  night,  or  "go 
to  sleep,"  as  children  call  it. 

The  leaves  have  very  acid  and  sour  juices,  similar 
in  taste  to  those  of  the  common  Red  Sorrel  that,  by 
the  way,  belongs  to  an  entirely  different  family 
(Buck-wheat).  Country  school  children  often  chew 
the  leaves  of  both  of  these,  as  the  sour  taste  has  an 
agreeable  twang. 

The  bright  golden-yellow  flowers  are  quite  frag- 
rant; they  open  only  in  the  sunshine  and  close  tight- 
ly at  night.  They  grow  in  few-flowered  umbels  at 
the  end  of  the  stem  on  slender  peduncles  from  the 
axils  of  some  of  the  leaves;  the  petals  are  thin, 
notched  at  the  ends  and  set  in  a  five-parted  calyx. 
After  their  flowering  season,  little  erect,  pointed  pods 
take  the  place  of  the  flowers.  This  species  is  a  very 
common  herb  or  weed  throughout  our  range. 

LOW  YELLOW  WOOD  SORREL  (Oxalis  repens) 
has  several  prostrate  and  creeping  stems  and  numer- 
ous erect,  leafy  branches;  it  is  very  low,  seldom  at- 
taining a  height  of  more  than  three  inches,  although 
the  prostrate  stem  may  measure  a  foot  in  length.  The 
little  yellow  flowers  are  set  on  short  deflexed  pedi- 
cels; this  peculiar  arrangement  is  more  prominent 
after  the  seed  pods  have  developed  as  the  stems  are 
even  more  deflexed  at  that  period;  it  looks  just  as 
though  some  one  had  bent  each  of  the  flower  pedicels 
sharply  back  at  their  junction  with  the  stem  or  ped- 
uncle. This  species  is  less  common  than  the  preced- 
ing. 


A.     WILD  GERANIUM;  CRANESBILL. 
Geranium  maculatum. 

B.     HERB  ROBERT. 
Geranium  Robertianum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         189 

WILD   GERANIUM;    CRANESBILL    (Geranium 

maculatum)  is  one  of  our  most  common  woodland 
plants,  flowering  from  May  to  July.  The  stem,  the 
leaves  and  the  flower  calyx  are  rough-hairy,  the  form- 
er being  quite  stout  and  branching  and  attaining 
heights  of  one  to  two  feet.  The  large,  magenta  or 
pale  purple  flowers  are  in  loose,  few-flowered  clusters 
at  the  ends  of  the  branches;  the  petals  are  large  and 
rounded  and  slightly  over-lap;  they  are  delicate  in 
texture  and  show  several  rather  transparent  lines 
radiating  from  their  whitish,  bearded  bases;  the  ten 
stamens  are  all  tipped  with  large,  golden-brown  anth- 
ers and  surround  a  slender,  green  pistil.  This  pis- 
til grows  to  be  very  long  by  the  time  the  plant  is  in 
fruit,  and  it  is  this  long  beak  that  gives  the  species 
the  name  of  Cranesbill;  when  the  fruit  is  fully  ma- 
tured, it  suddenly  splits  upwards  from  the  base  and 
scatters  the  seeds  contained  therein,  for  a  distance 
of  several  feet. 

The  leaves  of  the  Geranium  are  very  beautiful; 
some  of  them  are  on  long  petioles  from  the  base  and 
others  on  shorter  stems  from  the  main  plant  stalk. 
Their  texture  is  very  coarse  and  fuzzy,  and  the  sur- 
face often  spotted  with  white  or  brown;  they  are 
palmately  divided  into  five  lobes,  each  of  which  is 
sharply  toothed  and  pointed.  It  is  very  common  from 
Me.  to  Manitoba  and  southwards. 

HERB  ROBERT  (Geranium  Robertianum)  is  a 
smaller  edition  of  the  last.  Its  flowers  are  similar, 
but  smaller  and  coarser  in  texture.  Its  leaves  are 
smaller  and  usually  more  deeply  cleft.  The  stem  is 
usually  stained  with  red;  both  this  and  the  leaves 
emit  a  strong  odor  when  bruised. 

The  blossoms  of  this,  and  the  last  species,  are  fre- 
quented by  various  kinds  of  bees  that  are  necessary 
to  insure  its  pollenization,  since  the  anthers  have  fal- 
len away  before  the  stigma  ripens.  Herb  Robert  is 
common  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 


mi 

A.     FRINGED  POLYGALA. 
Polygala  paucifolia. 

B.        MlLKWORT. 

Polygala  polygama. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         191 
MILKWORT  FAMILY   (Polygalaceae). 

This  is  a  small  family  of  herbs  with  opposite  leaves 
and  perfect  but  irregular  flowers. 

FRINGED  POLYGALA  (Polygala  paucifolia)  is  a 
dainty  and  low  perennial,  usually  rising  but  four  or 
five  inches  from  the  ground;  the  stem  bends  sharply 
as  it  enters  the  soil  and  continues  into  a  long,  slend- 
er rootstalk  often  a  foot  in  length.  A  few  broad, 
ovate,  pointed,  shining,  bright  green  leaves  are  crowd- 
ed along  the  stem  near  its  top  and  one  or  two  tiny 
ones,  resembling  scales,  clasp  the  stem  lower  down. 
Either  one  or  two  flowers  are  at  the  summit  of  the 
stem;  they  are  quite  large,  being  nearly  an  inch  in 
length;  the  two  lateral  sepals  are  large  and  wing- 
shaped  (one  of  the  common  local  names  for  this  spe- 
cies is  "Bird-on-the-Wing"  because  of  the  fancied  re- 
semblance to  a  bird  in  flight) ;  the  three  petals  are 
joined  together  to  form  a  tube,  through  which  the 
yellow  stamens  and  pistil  protrude;  the  two  spread- 
ing sepals  are  crimson  pink  and  the  petals  are  light- 
er or  white,  the  lower  one  being  fringed  or  bearded. 
This  Polygala  is  common  in  damp,  rich  woods  from 
N.  S.  to  Manitoba  and  southwards  to  the  Gulf,  flower- 
ing during  May  and  June.  It  is  largely  dependent  up- 
on the  honeybee  for  fertilization. 

MILKWORT  (Polygata  polygama)  is  a  slender-stem- 
med species  from  five  to  fifteen  inches  high;  the  stem 
is  closely  crowded,  alternately,  with  narrow,  oval, 
pointed,  stemless  leaves.  The  dull  crimson  flowers 
are  borne  in  long,  slender  racemes  at  the  top  of  the 
stem.  Many,  usually  simple,  stems  grow  from  the 
biennial  root;  sometimes  they  have  a  single  branch 
near  the  top.  It  also  bears  cleistogamous  flowers  on 
subterranean  shoots;  it  is  from  these  that  it  gets  its 
specific  name  of  polygama.  It  is  quite  common  every- 
where in  dry  sandy  soil. 


A.        MlLKWORT. 

Polygala  sanguined. 

B.     CROSS-LEAVED  MILKWORT. 

Poll/gala  cruciata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         193 

FIELD  or  PURPLE  MILKWORT  (Polygala  san- 
guinea)  is  a  sturdy  little  pink-headed  plant  that  grows 
in  fields  or  meadows  or  along  roadsides,  often  in  com- 
pany with  Hop  Clover;  it  is  a  strange  fact  that  the 
flower  heads  of  these  very  different  species  should 
be  shaped  so  nearly  alike.  The  slender,  erect,  wiry 
stems  are  very  leafy  and  slightly  branched  at  the  top. 
A  single  round  or  cylindrical  flowerhead  terminates 
each  branch,  and  others  may  be  on  slender  peduncles 
from  the  angles  of  the  upper  leaves. 

The  flowers,  proper,  are  concealed  beneath  the 
large,  broad,  scale-like,  crimson-pink  sepals  that  tight- 
ly overlap  each  other  and  form  the  head;  these  scale- 
like  sepals  correspond  to  the  wings  on  the  Fringed 
Polygala,  the  true  petals  and  minutely  crested  keel 
being  shorter  and  not  visible  from  the  outside.  The 
small,  stiff,  acutely-pointed  leaves  are  densely  alter- 
nated on  the  stem  up  to  the  flower  head.  The  plant 
grows  from  6  to  12  inches  high,  and  abounds  through- 
out the  U.  S. 

CROSS-LEAVED  MILKWORT  (Polygala  cruciata) 
has  spatulate-shaped  leaves  arranged  in  fours  around 
the  stem, — cross-like.  The  stem  is  quite  branchy, 
and  grows  from  4  to  14  inches  high.  At  the  end  of 
each  branch,  seated  within  the  four  terminating 
leaves,  is  a  dainty  little,  globular,  pink  flower-head. 
Its  construction  is  more  open  than  that  of  the  preced- 
ing species;  the  pink,  sharply-pointed  sepals  do  not 
hug  closely  together,  but  are  -slightly  spread  so  that 
the  tiny  petals  and  stamens  may  be  seen.  The  little 
heads  bear  considerable  resemblance  to  tiny  Red 
Clover  blossoms. 

We  find  this  species  around  the  edges  of  swamps 
or  in  rather  moist  fields,  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and 
southwards  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Both  this  species 
and  the  last  have  a  long  period  of  bloom;  we  may 
find  their  flowers  from  June  until  September. 

IS 


SNOW-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN. 
Euphorbia  marginata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         1Q5 

SPURGE  FAMILY   (Euphorbiaceae). 

This  family  contains  a  dozen  different  genera,  all 
agreeing  in  that  they  have  acrid,  milky  juices. 

SNOW-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN;  WHITE-EDGED 
SPURGE  (Euphorbia  marginata)  is  a  large  bushy 
herb  often  cultivated  because  of  its  beautiful,  white- 
margined  foliage.  The  stem  is  very  stout  and 
branchy,  and  grows  from  2  to  3  feet  high.  The  leaves 
are  dark  green,  large,  ovate-pointed  and  seated  on 
the  stem;  the  lower  ones  are  quite  similar  in  shape  to 
those  of  the  common  milkweed  and  are  alternated  on 
the  stem;  those  near  the  end  of  the  branches  are 
crowded,  opposite  or  whorled  about  the  stem;  the 
terminal  ones  have  the  edges  of  the  leaves  more  or 
less  widely  margined  with  clear  white. 

The  flowers  are  rather  small,  grouped  in  clusters 
in  the  center  of  the  terminal  cluster  of  margined 
leaves.  The  staminate  and  pistillate  flowers  are  on 
different  plants.  The  involucre  is  five  parted  and 
has  five  white  petals. 

When  broken,  both  the  leaves  and  stems  exude 
quantities  of  a  milky  juice.  This  species  of  Spurge 
grows  in  dry  soil  from  Minn,  and  Ohio  west  to  Colo- 
rado, and  is  sometimes  found  in  parts  of  the  East 
where  it  has  escaped  from  gardens. 

PAINTED  LEAF  (Euphorbia  heterophylla)  is  a  pe- 
culiar species  found  on  rocky,  woody  slopes  from 
Minn,  southwards  to  Texas  and  in  Fla.  The  stout, 
erect,  branching,  smooth  stem  grows  from  one  to 
three  feet  high.  The  alternating  leaves  vary  from 
ovate,  sinuous-toothed,  to  lanceolate  and  smooth  edg- 
ed. The  ones  crowded  at  the  ends  of  the  branches 
usually  have  red  bases.  The  involucres  in  the  ter- 
minal cluster  are  five-parted. 

CYPRESS  SPURGE  (Euphorbia  Cyparissias)  is  an 
escape  from  gardens.  It  has  very  numerous,  linear 
leaves,  and  a  large  terminal  cluster  of  greenish-white 
flowers  stained  with  russet-red. 


JEWELWEED;  TOUCH-ME-NOT. 
Impatiens  biflora. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         197 

JEWEL-WEED  FAMILY   (Balsaminaceae). 
JEWEL-WEED;    SPOTTED  TOUCH-ME-NOT   (Im- 

patiens  biflora)  is  a  common  rank-growing  herb  with 
a  stout,  but  fragile,  branching  stem.  It  has  many  pe- 
culiarities and  a  great  many  local  names,  all  of  which 
pertain  to  some  of  these  peculiarities.  Its  most  com- 
mon name  of  Jewel-weed  is  very  appropriate,  as  the 
flowers  certainly  do  resemble  jeweled  pendants  hang- 
ing from  the  slender  branches.  The  large,  inflated 
sac,  which  is  really  one  of  the  three  sepals,  is  orange- 
yellow,  spotted  with  brown;  it  is  longer  than  it  is 
broad  and  has  a  sharply  incurved  spur  about  half  the 
length  of  the  sac.  Two  of  these  singular  flowers 
droop  from  the  ends  of  each  thread-like  peduncle,  but 
only  one  flowers  at  a  time. 

The  slim  seed-pod  is  the  cause  of  two  very  com- 
monly applied  names, — Touch-me-not  and  Snapweed. 
When  nearly  ripe,  these  pods  can  scarcely  be  touch- 
ed but  what  they  will  suddenly,  almost  explosively, 
burst  and  scatter  their  seeds  in  all  directions.  One 
not  acquainted  with  their  ways,  is  always  startled 
when  he  accidentally  brushes  against  the  mature 
Touch-me-not. 

The  leaves  are  very  delicate  in  appearance,  and 
their  light,  slender  stems  are  almost  translucent; 
they  are  ovate,  round-toothed,  dull  green  above  and 
whitish-green  below;  owing  to  the  coloring  of  the 
leaves,  Jewel-weed  is  often  locally  called  "Silver-leaf." 
The  stem  is  hollow  and  juicy,  and  stained  with  red- 
dish. 

PALE  TOUCH-ME-NOT  (Impatiens  pallida)  is  very 
similar.  The  flower  pouch,  however,  is  paler  and 
with  few  or  no  brown  spots,  the  sac  is  as  wide  as  it 
is  long,  and  the  curved  spur  is  less  than  one-third  the 
length  of  the  sac.  The  stem  is  light  green.  Both 
species  are  common  in  moist,  shady  places  through- 
out the  United  States. 


COMMON  MALLOW. 
Malva  rotundi folia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         199 
MALLOW   FAMILY   (Malvaceae.) 

Composed  of  herbs  or  shrubs  with  alternate,  stipu- 
late, irregular  leaves,  perfect,  regular  flowers  and 
having  mucilaginous  juices. 

COMMON  MALLOW;  CHEESES  (Malva  rotundi- 
folia)  (EUROPEAN)  is  a  very  common  weed  about 
dooryards,  especially  in  the  country,  and  along  the 
edges  of  cultivated  fields.  The  long  stalks  spring 
from  biennial  roots  and  creep  over  the  ground,  the 
branches  being  6  to  24  inches  in  length.  The  dark 
green,  round  leaves  are  very  handsome;  they  have 
a  shallow-lobed  and  very  finely  toothed  edge  and  are 
deeply,  palmately-ribbed.  The  leaves,  their  stems  and 
the  plant  stems  are  rathe*1  rough. 

The  small,  wide-spread,  bell-shaped  flowers  are 
clustered  close  to  the  stalk  on  short  stems  from  the 
axils  of  the  leaves.  The  five  petals  have  notched  tips, 
are  white,  delicately  tinted  with  pink  or  pale  magen- 
ta, and  have  veinings  of  a  deeper  shade.  The  flowers 
are  attractive  and,  were  they  not  so  abundant  about 
our  very  doors,  would  more  often  be  appreciated. 
The  seed  is  hard,  flat  and  rounded,  composed  of  a 
dozen  or  more  carpels;  it  is  eaten  by  children  with 
great  relish,  these  being  the  "cheeses"  that  give  the 
species  one  of  its  common  names. 

Like  so  many  others  of  our  flowers,  this  species 
came  to  our  shores  from  across  the  Atlantic.  As 
usual  with  foreign  plants  introduced  into  this  coun- 
try, it  thrives  here  better,  and  multiplies  even  faster, 
than  in  its  native  home.  It  is  the  same  with  all 
classes  of  life.  The  English  Sparrow,  to  our  sorrow, 
is  so  strongly  entrenched  here  that  it  can  never  be 
driven  out.  The  Ring-necked  Pheasant,  introduced 
from  China,  is  very  abundant  in  the  Northwest  and, 
even  in  the  East,  thrives  better  than  the  native 
Grouse. 


A.  HIGH  MALLOW. 
Malva  sylvestris. 

B.  MUSK  MALLOW. 
Malva  moschata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         201 

HIGH  MALLOW  (Malva  sylvestris)   (EUROPEAN) 

is  a  tall  biennial  with  a  coarse  branching  stem,  often 
attaining  a  height  of  three  feet,  or  even  more  on 
waste  land;  usually,  as  we  see  it  along  roadsides,  it 
is  only  from  one  to  two  feet  in  height.  Both  the  stems 
and  the  leaves  have  a  thick  covering  of  hair;  the  lat- 
ter are  all  borne  on  long  stems,  alternating  along  the 
plant  stalk,  and  are  divided  into  five  or  seven  lobes 
with  a  serrate  outline.  The  flowers  grow  in  clusters 
of  perhaps  a  half  dozen  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves; 
they  have  five,  heart-shaped  petals  of  a  purplish  color, 
with  two  or  three  conspicuous  veins  of  a  darker  shade 
of  the  same  color.  This  species  is  often  erroneously 
called  Marsh  Mallow,  because  of  the  similarity  of  the 
names.  The  latter  plant,  though,  is  quite  different 
from  the  present  species. 

The  Mallows  get  their  generic  name  of  Malva,  in  al- 
lusion to  the  soothing  effect  of  the  mucilaginous 
juices  of  the  root  and  stem.  This  is  used  for  the  mak- 
ing of  a  number  of  soothing  compounds. 

MUSK  MALLOW  (Malva  moschata)  (EUROPEAN) 

is  a  similar  species  with  the  leaves  deeply  and  palm- 
ately  slashed  and  toothed.  Several  hairy,  branching 
stems  proceed  from  the  perennial  root,  to  heights  of 
one  or  two  feet.  The  flowers  are  peculiar  in  that  the 
ends  of  each  of  the  five  rose-colored  petals  are  rough- 
ly notched,  looking  as  though  they  had  been  bitten  off . 
This  species  received  its  name  from  the  fact  that 
when  the  leaves  are  crushed.,  they  give  forth  a  slight 
odor  of  musk.  The  blossoms  occur,  singly  or  in 
pairs,  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves,  near  the  ends  of 
the  branches.  It  blooms  in  July  and  August  in  waste 
places,  often* -alorig^  roadsides,  where'  it  'has  made  its 
escape  from  gardens.  It  is  now  quite  abundant  in 
northern  New  England  and  southern  Canada. 


ROSE  MALLOW. 
Hibiscus  moscheutos. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         203 

ROSE  MALLOW  (Hibiscus  Moscheutos)  is  a  tall, 
leafy  perennial,  bearing  flowers  that  easily  rank  as 
being  among  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  of  any  of 
our  wild  flowers.  The  stem  is  quite  stout  and  inclin- 
ed to  be  hairy.  The  large  leaves  are  ovate-pointed 
and  toothed;  they  are  stemmed,  and  alternate  along 
the  main  plant  stalk.  The  lower  ones  are  often  three- 
lobed. 

The  flowers  grow  on  short  stems  at  the  end  of  the 
upright  stalk.  But  one  usually  blooms  at  a  time 
and  there  are  not  a  great  many  buds;  what  they  lack 
in  profusion  of  bloom,  this  species  fully  makes  up  in 
size,  for  its  blossoms  measure  four  to  six  inches 
across.  The  five,  large  petals,  are  a  delicate  rose 
color,  conspicuously  veined,  and  often  with  crimson 
bases.  The  long,  slender  pistil  divides  at  the  tip,  in- 
to five  flat-headed  stigmas;  for  more  than  half  its 
length,  it  is  encased  in  the  long  stamen  column,  the 
sides  of  which  are  covered  with  yellow  anthers. 

The  Rose  Mallow  grows  in  swamps  and  marshes 
near  the  coast,  from  Mass.,  southwards,  and  along 
the  shores  of  the  Great  Lakes  to  Mich.  It  blooms 
from  July  to  September. 

For  twenty  years  a  small  colony  of  perhaps  half  a 
dozen  of  the  beautiful  plants  grew  in  a  certain  swamp 
near  Narragansett  Bay  in  R.  I.  They  were  so  sur- 
rounded by  bogs  that  it  was  very  difficult  to  reach 
them,  but  finally  they  were  found  by  summer  visitors 
and  the  plants,  root  and  all,  removed  bodily.  Such 
is  the  fate  of  our  beautiful  flowers. 

MARSH  MALLOW  (Althea  officialis)  is  a  species 
that  has  been  introduced  from  Europe  and  is  found  in 
some  of  the  salt  marshes  near  the  coast.  The  leaves 
are  downy,  three-lobed,  toothed  and  stout-stemmed. 
The  hollyhock-like  flowers  are  in  small  clusters  from 
the  angles  of  the  leaves.  The  thick  root  furnishes 
material  for  confectionery. 


COMMON  ST.  JOHNSWORT. 
Hypericum  perforatum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         205 

ST.  JOHNSWORT  FAMILY  (Hypericaceae). 

A  small  family  of  shrubs  and  herbs,  having  oppo- 
site, toothless,  and  generally  stemless  leaves,  and  reg- 
ular, four  or  five-petalled  flowers. 

COMMON  ST.  JOHNSWORT  (Hypericum  perfor- 
atum)  (EUROPEAN)  is  a  wanderer  from  the  old 
world  that,  having  reached  our  hospitable  shores,  pro- 
ceeded to  multiply  and  over-run  the  native  plants  so 
that  it  is  now  regarded  by  farmers  as  a  pest  along 
with  the  Wild  Carrot  and  Mustard.  If  it  is  true  that 
in  the  struggle  for  existence,  the  fittest  survive,  then 
surely  this  species  must  be  one  of  the  fittest;  we 
often  see  it  growing  lustily  in  circumstances  under 
which  few  plants  could  exist.  It  grows  promiscuous- 
ly in  fields  or  along  roadsides.  Even  a  generous 
sprinkling  of  tarvia,  received  when  the  roads  were 
sprinkled,  failed  to  kill  this  plant,  although  many 
other  species  died  from  the  effects. 

It  has  a  slender  but  tough  stem  from  one  to  two 
feet  high;  it  has  numerous  short  branches,  each 
crowded  with  tiny,  stiff,  oval  leaves.  The  upper 
branches  terminate  in  clusters  of  5-parted,  golden- 
yellow  flowers  with  numerous,  long,  yellow  stamens. 
This  species  blooms  from  July  until  September. 

SPOTTED  ST.  JOHNSWORT  (Hypericum  puncta- 
tum)  is  a  similar  species,  with  paler  flowers  having 
fine  black  streaks  on  the  petals,  especially  on  the  un- 
der sides;  the  leaves  are  thickly  dotted  with  black 
and  brown.  It  is  found  in  moist  places  or  thickets 
from  N,  S.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

SHRUBBY  ST.  JOHNSWORT  (Hypericum  proli- 
ficum)  is  a  very  shrubby  species,  with  stout  branch- 
ing stems.  The  deep  green,  linear-oblong  leaves  are 
closely  seated  on  the  stem  and  at  their  bases  are 
other  tiny  leaves  or  leaflets.  The  flower  clusters  are 
thick,  flat  and  bright  golden-yellow;  the  numerous 
stamens  are  orange-yellow.  Common  from  N.  Y.  to 
Minn,  and  southwards. 


A.     MARSH  ST.  JOHNSWORT. 

Hypericum  virginicum. 

B.     ST.  JOHNSWORT. 

Hypericum  ellipticum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         207 

MARSH    ST.    JOHNSWORT     (Hypericum    virgin!- 

cum)  is  an  entirely  different  species  in  every  respect. 
The  stem  is  slender,  erect  and  from  one  to  two  feet 
in  height,  growing  from  perennial  running  rootstalks. 
The  comparatively  large  leaves  are  light  green,  with 
brownish  spots  and  a  white  bloom  on  the  under  side; 
they  are  closely  set,  oppositely  on  the  stem. 

The  flowers  are  in  small  clusters  terminating  the 
branches;  the  five  petals  are  of  a  pinkish,  flesh-color 
ar-d  surround  three  groups  of  golden-yellow  stamens. 

This  species  is  prcbably  chiefly  self-pollenized;  the 
three  bundles  of  stamens  are  close  to  the  stigmas, 
and  just  on  a  level  with  them,  so  that  a  visiting  in- 
sect could  scarcely  help  depositing  pollen  on  the 
stigma  of  its  own  flcwer.  True,  some  of  it  may  be 
left  on  his  body  to  carry  to  another  blossom,  so  that 
occasionally  cross-fertilization  may  occur.  After  the 
flowering  season,  the  flower  contracts  so  that  the  an- 
thers and  stigmas  are  in  contact  with  each  other. 
Later  in  the  summer,  after  the  flowers  have  entirely 
withered  away,  the  stem  and  the  leaves  take  on  a 
rosy  tinge  that  attracts  the  attention  of  the  observer, 
even  though  he  be  not  interested  in  flowers. 

ST.   JOHNSWORT    (Hypericum   ellipticum)    has   a 

simple  usually  4-angled  stem,  sometimes  with  a  sin- 
gle branch  near  the  top.  It  grows  from  8  to  20  inches 
high  and  is  quite  leafy.  The  leaves  are  comparatively 
large,  about  the  same  shape  as  those  of  Marsh  St. 
Johnswort.  At  the  top  are  a  few  five-petalled  flowers 
with  bright  golden-yellow  stamens.  The  ovoid  pods 
succeeding  the  flowers  are  brownish.  This  species  is 
found  in  damp  places  or  along  streams  from  Me.  to 
Minn,  and  south  to  Pa. 


A.     ROCK  ROSE;  FROST- WEED. 
Helianthemum  canadense. 

B.     HUDSONIA. 
Hudsonia  tomentosa. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         209 

ROCKROSE  FAMILY  (Cistaceae). 

A  small  family  of  small  shrubs  or  herbs,  having 
regular  flowers  with  three  or  five  petals  and  five 
sepals,  the  two  external  ones  being  small  and  bract- 
like. 

FROSTWEED;  ROCKROSE  (Helianthemum  can- 
adense).  This  little  perennial  is  very  remarkable 
and  unique,  because  late  in  autumn,  crystals  of  ice 
form  about  the  cracked  bark  of  the  root.  It  is  also 
remarkable  for  the  fact  that  it  has  two  sets  of  flow- 
ers, the  first  ones  in  June  and  later  ones  in  July  or 
August.  The  first  flowers  are  large  and  solitary, 
about  one  inch  across,  with  five  showy  yellow  petals; 
these  are  very  delicate  and  the  petals  soon  fall. 

Continuing  its  growth  the  plant  developes  several 
short  branches  near  the  top,  on  each  of  which  will 
appear  from  one  to  four  smaller  flowers,  some  with 
yellow  petals  and  some  without  any. 

The  leaves  are  small,  oblong-lanceolate,  hoary  with 
white  hairs  on  the  under  side,  alternating  along  the 
stem  that  rises  from  10  to  18  inches  high.  Both 
the  early  and  late  flowers  are  fertile,  the  seed  pods 
of  the  former  are  about  a  quarter  inch  long,  those  of 
the  latter,  less  than  half  as  long.  Frostweed  grows 
in  sandy,  dry  soil  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

HUDSONIA  (Hudsonia  tomentosa)  is  a  low  branch- 
ing, little  shrub  rising  only  5  or  10  inches  above 
ground.  Its  branching  stems  are  closely  crowded 
with  tiny,  scale-like,  oval  leaves  about  one-half  inch 
long.  These  are  set  as  closely  about  the  stem  as  pos- 
sible and  hug  closely  to  it,  instead  of  spreading. 

The  small,  yellow  flowers  that  are  crowded  along 
the  ends  of  the  branches,  open  only  in  sunshine;  the 
five  tiny  yellow  petals  surround  numerous  stamens 
and  a  long,  slender  style.  Hudsonia  is  found  on  sandy 
shores  from  N.  B.  to  Va.  and  along  the  Great  Lakes. 

14 


A.     BIRD'S-FOOT  VIOLET. 

Viola  pedata. 

B.     PALMATED  VIOLET. 

Viola  palmata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         211 
VIOLET  FAMILY  (Violaceae). 

A  small  family  of  herbs  with  perfect  but  irregular 
flowers  having  five  petals,  the  lower  one  of  which  is 
spurred;  flowers  nodding. 

BIRD-FOOT  VIOLET  (Viola  pedata)  is  a  well 
known  and  very  characteristic  violet,  one  not  apt 
to  be  confused  with  the  other  species  of  blue  violets. 
The  flowers  of  this  species  are  the  largest  of  the  blue 
violets;  they  are  blue-violet  or  purple-violet  and  have 
a  bright  orange  center,  formed  by  the  large  anthers 
that  block  the  throat  of  the  blossom.  The  lower, 
large  petal  is  slightly  grooved,  veined  with  white  at 
its  base  and  has  a  short  spur  to  hold  nectar  for  its 
valued  insect  visitors,  these  being  bumblebees  and 
small  butterflies. 

The  leaves  grow  on  long  petioles,  in  dense  tufts, 
from  the  root;  each  leaf  is  cut  into  five  to  eleven 
parts,  all  sharply  pointed,  and  the  middle  and  lateral 
ones  with  their  ends  notched  or  cleft. 

EARLY  BLUE  VIOLET;  PALMATED  VIOLET 
(Viola  palmata)  has  slightly  smaller  blue  flowers  with 
bearded  side  petals;  occasionally  the  flowers  may  be 
nearly  white.  Its  petals  are  narrower  than  those  of 
the  last  species  and  the  anthers  are  smaller  and 
less  .conspicuous. 

The  basal  leaves  are  very  variable  in  shape,  rang- 
ing from  heart-shaped  with  rounded  teeth  and  an  un- 
broken edge  to  palmately  cleft  ones  with  five  or 
seven  rounded  lobes;  they  are  never  cleft  entirely  to 
the  stem  as  are  those  of  Bird-foot  Violet,  but  only 
about  half  way,  and  all  divisions  are  rounded  with  no 
sharp  angles.  Both  of  these  violets  are  common  in 
dry  ground,  the  former  in  fields  or  the  borders  of 
swamps,  and  the  latter  usually  in  thin  woodland, 
from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 


A.  COMMON  VIOLET. 
Viola  cucullata. 

B.  CANADA  VIOLET. 
Viola  canadensis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         213 

COMMON  VIOLET  (Viola  cucullata)  is  the  common- 
est  and  best  known  of  all  the  violets.  It  grows  in  low 
land  everywhere, — in  woods,  meadows,  marshes 
or  along  roadsides.  It  is  a  very  beautiful  and  vari- 
able species  both  as  to  size  and  color  of  blossoms  and 
to  shape  of  the  leaves.  If  the  ground  is  dry,  the 
plants  will  be  small,  and  the  flowers  nodding  from 
scapes  perhaps  3  inches  high.  In  rich  swampy 
ground  we  find  it  at  its  best,  the  handsome  flowers 
sometimes  proudly  waving  their  heads  on  slender 
stems  a  foot  long. 

The  flowers  are  sometimes  a  deep  purple  and  again 
may  be  a  light  blue,  or  even  nearly  white.  The  two 
upper  petals  are  usually  darker  near  the  throat;  the 
three  lower  ones  shade  to  white  at  the  throat,  the 
side  ones  being  beautifully  fringed  or  bearded.  The 
leaves  are  usually  heart-shaped,  round-toothed  and 
concave  or  furled;  they  are  on  long  stems  from  the 
base. 

CANADA  VIOLET  (Viola  canadensis)  is  the  most 
common  of  the  leafy  stemmed  blue  violets.  You  will 
notice  that  the  preceding  species  all  had  their  leaves 
from  the  base,  and  the  flowers  nodding  on  slender 
scapes,  while  this  one  has  leaves  growing  on  the  slen- 
der stem  and  flowers  above  them  on  peduncles, 
springing  from  the  angles  of  the  leaves.  The  leaves 
are  heart-shaped,  pointed  and  serrate.  The  flowers 
are  pale  violet  or  even  white,  the  lower,  spurred  petals 
having  yellowish  bases,  streaked  with  purple  veins; 
the  side  petals  streaked  with  purple  and  bearded. 
This  species  is  quite  common  in  woods  throughout 
the  United  States. 

Violets  are  among  our  most  popular  flowers.  Varie- 
ties obtained  from  our  wild  ones  are  cultivated  in 
enormous  quantities  for  adornment  and  for  perfume. 
The  violet  is  the  state  flower  of  Rhode  Island,  and 
has  been  adopted  as  their  representative  flower  by 
several  colleges. 


A.     WHITE  VIOLET;  SWEET  VIOLET. 

Viola  blanda. 

B.     LANCE-LEAVED  VIOLET. 
Viola  lanceolata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         215 
SWEET   WHITE   VIOLET    (Viola    blanda)    is   the 

most  fragrant  of  our  wild  violets,  regardless  of  color. 
It  is  a  most  charming  plant,  but  very  diminutive,  in 
fact  it  is  probably  the  smallest  of  the  entire  family. 
Occasionally  we  may  find  them  in  some  exceptional- 
ly favorable  locality  growing  to  a  height  of  perhaps 
six  inches,  but  the  usual  height  will  barely  exceed 
two  inches.  The  plant  is  stemless,  that  is  the  leaf 
stems  and  flower  stalks  all  spring  directly  from  the 
root. 

The  delicate,  white  flowers  are  small, — barely  a 
half  inch  across  and  many  of  them  not  more  than 
a  quarter  of  an  inch.  The  petals  are  not  widely  ex- 
panded, and  the  top  two  are  usually  more  or  less 
curved  backwards;  the  three  lower  petals  are  very 
delicately  veined  near  the  throat  with  purple,  and 
the  lateral  ones  are  sometimes  fringed  of  bearded.  By 
the  way,  this  beard  that  is  found  on  most  of  the  violets 
is  there  for  a  purpose,— to  prevent  crawling  insects, 
such  as  small  ants,  from  gaining  admittance  to  the 
store  of  nectar  in  the  spur  back  of  the  throat.  Useful 
bees  or  butterflies  can  reach  through  with  their 
tongues,  but  it  is  almost  impossible  for  other  pilfer- 
ers to  force  their  way  through  bodily. 

The  leaves  of  the  common  white  violet  are  rounded 
heart-shaped  with  slightly  scalloped  or  round-toothed 
edges.  It  is  very  common  in  swamps  and  moist  woods 
throughout  the  United  States  and  southern  Canada. 

LANCE-LEAVED  VIOLET  (Viola  lanceolata)  is  a 
taller,  more  slender  species  growing  from  3  to  8 
inches  high.  Its  leaves  are  lance-shaped,  scallop-edg- 
ed and  on  long  stems  from  the  root.  The  white  flow- 
ers are  only  slightly  fragrant;  the  three  lower  petals 
are  strongly  veined  with  purple  and  the  two  side  ones 
are  rarely  bearded.  It  is  commonly  found  in  swamps 
and  moist  ground  from  N.  S.  to  Minn,  and  south- 
wards, flowering  from  April  to  June. 


DOWNY  YELLOW  VIOLET. 
Viola  pubescens. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         217 

DOWNY  YELLOW  VIOLET  (Viola  pubescens)  is 
a  large  very  handsome  violet  that  prefers,  for  its 
habitat,  dry  hilly  woods,  often  by  the  side  of  rushing 
brooks,  but  not  usually  where  the  soil  is  moist. 

In  a  certain  piece  of  woodland,  a  small  brook  tum- 
bles its  way  noisily  along  its  rocky  bed.  Alders  spar- 
ingly line  both  banks  of  the  brook,  banks  that  slope 
steeply  upward  on  either  side.  In  one  place  along 
it,  in  a  place  the  size  of  an  ordinary  room,  is  a  colony 
of  Yellow  Violets,  growing  so  closely  together  that 
one  can  barely  see  the  ground  between  the  leaves. 
Directly  over  this  wild  flower  bed,  a  pair  of  Wood 
Thrushes  make  their  home,  year  after  year.  Ordinar- 
ily Yellow  Violets  bloom  in  April  and  May,  but  in 
this  particular  case  their  bloom  is  delayed  until  the 
latter  part  of  May,  the  time  when  their  feathered 
neighbors  have  their  home  also  completed. 

The  Yellow  Violet  is  one  of  the  tallest  members  of 
the  family,  its  stem  ranging  from  6  to  18  inches  in 
length.  Both  the  stems  and  the  leaves  are  wooly 
hairy.  There  are  from  two  to  four  leaves  growing 
from  the  stem  near  its  summit;  they  are  heart-shap- 
ed, pointed,  and  either  toothed  or  scalloped.  The 
flowers,  rising  on  slender  peduncles  from  the  axils 
of  the  leaves,  are  rather  large  and  bright  yellow;  the 
two  lateral  petals  are  heavily  bearded  and  the  lower 
one  is  handsomely  veined  with  purple.  These  beards 
compel  visiting  insects  to  brush  against  the  stigma 
and  then  against  the  anthers  before  reaching  the 
nectar  in  the  short  spur. 

Most  of  the  violets,  during  the  summer,  have  apeta- 
lous  or  cleistogamous  flowers  on  short  peduncles  from 
the  root;  these  never  open,  but  are  fertilized  in  the 
bud.  Closely  allied  species  when  growing  near  each 
other,  often  form  hybrids  that  are  confusing  except 
to  the  expert  botanist. 

SMOOTH  YELLOW  VIOLET  (Viola  scabriuscula) 
is  similar  to  the  former  but,  normally,  is  smooth  or 
only  very  slightly  hairy.  Yellow  Violets  are  found 
from  N.  S.  to  Manitoba  and  southwards  to  Md.  and 
Kans. 


.  A 


A.     PURPLE  LOOSESTRIFE. 
Lythrum  salicaria. 
B.     LOOSESTRIFE. 
Lythrum  alatum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         219 

LOOSESTRIFE    FAMILY    (Lythraceae). 

A  small  family  of  herbs  or  shrubs,  usually  with  op- 
posite, entire-edged  leaves  and  perfect  flowers. 

PURPLE  or  SPIKED  LOOSESTRIFE  (Lythrum 
Salicaria)  (EUROPEAN).  Undoubtedly  this  species, 
which  came  to  us  from  Europe,  is  the  most  beautiful 
of  the  genus.  It  is  quite  commonly  known  by  the 
names  of  "Long  Purples"  and  "Spiked  Willow-herb." 
It  is  a  very  ornamental  plant  and  forms  a  very  attrac- 
tive contrast  to  the  surrounding  vegetation  when  seen 
growing  in  profusion,  as  it  so  often  does,  along  the 
banks  of  rivers  and  ponds.  The  rootstalk  is  perennial 
so  that,  once  established,  this  species  will  spring  up 
year  after  year  in  the  same  place. 

The  plant  grows  from  2  to  4  feet  high  and  branches 
towards  the  top;  during  the  flowering  season,  from 
June  to  August,  we  may  see  from  one  to,  often,  as 
many  as  half  a  dozen  of  these  beautiful,  long  spikes 
flowering  simultaneously  on  the  same  plant.  The 
green  leaves  are  stemless,  lance-shaped  and  grow  op- 
positely, or  in  circles  of  three,  on  the  slightly  hairy 
stem.  The  many  purple  flowers,  making  up  the  spike, 
each  have  six  long  petals  and  are  trimorphous,  that 
is  flowers  on  the  same  plant  have,  relatively,  three 
different  lengths  of  stamens  and  pistils.  They  are 
cross-fertilized  by  bees  and  various  species  of  butter- 
flies. Purple  Loosestrife  is  found  locally  in  swamps 
and  on  marshy  borders  of  streams  from  Me.  to  Del. 
and  westwards. 

LOOSESTRIFE  (Lythrum  alatum)  is  a  tall  slend- 
er, native  species  growing  1  to  3  feet  high,  angular 
and  branching.  The  deep  green,  lance-shaped  leaves 
are  set  oppositely  on  the  lower  stem  and  alternately 
on  the  upper  branches.  The  flowers  appear  sparing- 
ly from  the  axils  of  the  leaves  near  the  ends  of  the 
branches.  This  species  grows  in  moist  ground  from 
N.  S.  to.  Minn,  and  southwards  to  the  Gulf. 


MEADOW  BEAUTY;  DEERGRASS. 
Rhexia  virginica. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         221 

MELASTOMA   FAMILY    (Melastomaceae). 

MEADOW  BEAUTY  (Rhexia  virginica)  is  a  pretty 
little  plant  that  always  causes  a  thrill  of  admiration 
to  pass  through  us  as  we  come  across  it  in  grassy 
marshes  where  other  flowers  are  usually  few  and 
very  far  between. 

The  individual  blossoms  are  very  handsome,  but 
the  plant,  as  a  whole,  has  rather  a  disheveled  ap- 
pearance; it  has  numerous  buds,  two  or  three  of 
which,  only,  open  at  a  time,  lasting  but  for  a  short 
space,  the  petals  then  falling  off  and  the  calyx  and 
long  stamens  becoming  withered  and  brownish;  these 
detract  greatly  from  an  otherwise  very  beautiful 
plant. 

Meadow  Beauty  or  "Deer-grass'  is  a  perennial,  has 
a  stout  stem,  quite  branching  and  sharp-pointed, 
ovate,  toothed,  three-ribbed  leaves,  seated  oppositely 
on  the  stem.  The  flowers  grow  on  slender  peduncles 
from  the  angles  of  the  upper  leaves;  they  have  four 
large,  rounded,  magenta  petals,  each  with  a  short, 
sharp  point  at  the  tip.  The  eight  stamens  are  long 
and  slightly  unequal,  the  anthers  being  exception- 
ally large  and  bright  golden-yellow;  the  calyx  is  urn- 
shaped,  with  four,  short,  sharp  teeth.  Meadow  beauty 
is  found  blooming  during  July  and  August  in  sandy 
marshes  and  shores  from  Me.  to  Fla.  and  in  the 
states  bordering  the  Mississippi.  Several  other  spe- 
cies are  found,  differing  but  slightly,  as  follows: 

Rhexla  aristosa  has  a  square,  or  wing-angled  stem, 
linear-oblong  leaves  and  pink  or  purple  petals.  Pound 
in  pine  barrens  from  N.  J.  to  Ga. 

R.  mariana  has  a  round  stem  and  linear-oblong 
leaves  with  short  stems.  Found  in  sandy  swamps 
from  N.  Y.  to  Fla.  and  west  to  Mo.  and  Tex. 

R.  ciliosa  has  a  square  stem,  broad,  ovate  leaves 
few,  stemless  flowers  with  straight  anthers.  Found 
from  Md.  to  Fla.  and  La. 


A.     WILLOW  HERB;  FIREWEED. 

Epilobium  angustifolium. 

B.     HAIRY  WILLOW  HERB. 

Epilobium  hirsutum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         223 

EVENING    PRIMROSE    FAMILY    (Onagraceae). 

A  family  of  herbs  or  shrubs  with  perfect,  usually 
four-parted  flowers,  four  petals,  four  sepals,  four  or 
eight  stamens  and  a  two  or  four-parted  stigma. 

GREAT  WILLOW-HERB;  FIREWEED  (Epilobium 
angustifolium)  springs  up  in  profusion  and  attains 
its  greatest  growth  in  clearings  or  recently  burned 
land;  hence  the  name  of  "Fireweed"  by  which  it  is 
most  commonly  known,  a  name  which  is  also  given 
to  an  entirely  different  plant  (Erechtites  hieracifolia), 
belonging  to  the  great  Composite  Family. 

The  tall,  upright  stem  is  usually  simple,  but  occa- 
sionally slightly  branched  at  the  top.  It  attains 
heights  of  from  two  to  eight  feet.  The  closely  al- 
ternating leaves  are  long,  lance-shaped,  greatly  re- 
sembling those  of  the  Willow,  from  which  fact  it  re- 
ceived its  other  common  name,  a  name,  by  the 
way,  that  it  is  advisable  to  apply  to  this  species  as 
it  will  avoid  confusion  of  conflicting  names. 

The  flower  spike  is  long;  the  flowers,  blooming 
from  the  bottom,  upwards,  leave  in  their  wake,  num- 
erous upright,  long,  slender  pods.  The  four  pink 
petals  of  each  flower  are  very  broad  and  rounded 
at  the  outer  end,  alternated  with  narrow  brownish 
sepals;  it  has  eight  stamens  and  a  prominent  4-parted 
pistil.  They  are  apparently  seated  on  the  ends  of  the 
slender  undeveloped  pods. 

The  Great  Willow  Herb  is  abundant  throughout  our 
range  in  low  ground,  blooming  during  July  and 
August. 

HAIRY  WILLOW  HERB  (Epilobium  hirsutum) 
(EUROPEAN)  has  become  naturalized  and  is  fairly 
common  in  waste  places  and  about  old  dwellings.  It 
is  branchy,  hairy,  has  finely  toothed,  stemless  leaves, 
and  four-parted,  magenta  flowers  growing  from  the 
angles  of  the  upper  leaves. 


A.     EVENING  PRIMROSE. 
Oenothera  biennis. 

B.     SUNDROPS. 
Oenothera  fructicosa. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         225 

EVENING  PRIMROSE  (Oenothera  biennis)  is  an 
exceedingly  common  biennial  plant,  so  persistent  and 
so  profuse  in  its  growth  that  it  is  often  regarded  as 
an  obnoxious  weed.  Its  common  name  was  given  it 
because  of  its  nocturnal  habits,  the  flowers  spread- 
ing wide  open  at  dusk  and  partly  or  wholly  closing 
the  next  morning. 

The  stem  is  soft-hairy,  quite  stout  and  often  very 
tall,  ranging  from  1  to  6  feet  in  height.  It  is  usually 
simple,  but  sometimes  branches,  especially  in  the 
Fall.  Both  the  stem  and  the  leaves  are  rather 
coarse  in  texture;  the  latter  are  lanceolate,  stemless 
and  rough-edged  or  very  slightly  toothed.  The  flow- 
ers are  seated  in  the  angles  of  the  upper  leaves;  they 
appear  to  be  on  stems,  for  the  calyxtube  is  very 
long  and  slender,  with  the  four  lobes,  or  sepals,  re- 
flexed.  The  four,  pale,  lemon-yellow  petals  are  large 
and  rounded,  the  flower  spreading  slightly  less  than 
two  inches;  the  eight  stamens  have  golden-yellow 
anthers. 

The  lower  buds  open  first,  only  a  few  at  a 
time,  so  that  usually  we  may  find  seed-pods  seat- 
ed among  the  leaves  just  below  the  flowers  and  un- 
developed buds  and  leaves  above.  It  is  fertilized 
sometimes  by  bees  in  the  daytime,  but  chiefly  by 
night-flying  moths.  A  large  variety  (grandiflora)  is 
often  cultivated  and  sometimes  escapes.  It  is  an 
European  species  with  flowers  measuring  3  or  4 
inches  across.  The  Primrose  blooms  in  fields  and 
roadsides,  everywhere,  from  July  to  September. 

SUNDROPS  (Oenothera  fructicosa)  a  somewhat 
similar,  diurnal  species,  with  a  branched  stem  grows 
1  to  3  feet  high.  The  pale  yellow  flowers  measure 
from  y2  to  1  inch  across;  they  are  in  loose  terminal 
clusters  or  from  the  angles  of  the  upper  leaves.  The 
leaves  are  linear-lanceolate,  slightly  toothed.  Com- 
mon from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

15 


WILD  SARSAPARILLA. 
Aralia  nudicaulis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         227 

GINSENG  FAMILY  (Araliaceae). 

A  family  of  herbs  with  compound  leaves  and  usual- 
ly perfect,  tiny  flowers  in  umbels  or  clusters. 

WILD  SARSAPARILLA  (Aralia  nudicaulis)  has  a 
single  large,  compound  leaf  on  a  long  stem  from  the 
creeping,  fragrant,  aromatic  root;  the  leaf  is  divided 
into  three  branching  divisions,  each  containing  five 
ovate,  toothed  leaflets.  This  single  leaf  is  often  mis- 
takenly called  three.  The  flowers  are  gathered  into 
three,  rounded  umbels,  on  short  pedicels,  from  the 
top  of  a  long  stem  that  joins  the  leaf -stem  near  its 
base;  each  cluster  bears  many,  tiny,  five-parted, 
greenish-white  flowers  with  reflexed  petals.  It  is  a 
very  decorative  plant,  common  in  moist  woodland 
from  Newfoundland  to  Minn,  and  southwards.  It  is 
often  locally  known  as  "Umbrella-plant"  because  of 
the  manner  in  which  the  large  leaf  spreads  protecting- 
ly  over  the  round,  flower  clusters. 

GINSENG  (Panax  quinquefolium)  is  well  known  as 
the  plant  that  is  collected  and  cultivated  for  the  thick, 
fleshy,  branching  roots.  Enormous  quantities  of  these 
roots  are  annually  shipped  to  China,  where  they  com- 
mand large  prices  because  of  supposed  medicinal  pro- 
perties. The  plant  grows  from  8  to  18  inches  high. 
Three  compound  leaves,  each  consisting  of  five,  ovate- 
pointed,  toothed,  short-stemmed  leaflets,  radiate  from 
near  the  top  of  the  smooth  stem.  From  six  to  twenty, 
tiny,  5-parted,  yellowish-white  flowers  are  in  a  round 
umbel,  on  a  slender,  upright  peduncle  above  the 
leaves.  It  is  found  in  rich,  cold  woods  from  Quebec 
to  Minn,  and  South  to  Ala.  and  Mo. 

DWARF  GINSENG  (Panax  trifolium)  is  a  tiny  spe- 
cies from  4  to  8  inches  high.  It  has  a  spherical  root, 
slender  stem,  three  leaves  compounded  of  three  leaf- 
lets each,  and  numerous,  tiny  white  flowers  in  an 
umbel  above  them.  Common  in  rich  woods  from  N. 
S.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 


B. 


HI      I     'Si 

A.     WATER  PARSNIP. 
Slum  cir cut ae folium. 
WILD  CARROT;  QUEEN  ANNE'S  LACE. 
Daucus  Carota. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         229 
PARSLEY   FAMILY   (Umbeliferae). 

A  large  family  of  herbs,  usually  with  hollow  stems, 
tiny,  .perfect  or  polygamous  flowers  in  umbels  or  flat- 
topped  clusters  and  with  deeply-cut,  compound  leaves. 

WATER  PARSNIP  (Slum  cicutaefolium)  is  a  stout 
branching  herb  growing  in  shallow  water.  The  rather 
weak  stem  is  from  2  to  6  feet  high.  The  alternating, 
compound  leaves  are  very  variable,  but  usually  of 
from  seven  to  fifteen,  sharply-toothed,  linear  or  lance- 
shaped  leaflets.  Flat,  dome-shaped  clusters,  or  um- 
bels, of  tiny  white  flowers  terminate  the  upper 
branches.  This  species  is  very  abundant  throughout 
the  country. 

EARLY  MEADOW  PARSNIP  (Zizia  aurea)  is  a 
common  roadside  weed,  or  found  along  the  borders 
of  woods,  swamps  or  meadows.  Its  rather  weak  ap- 
pearing stems  surprise  us  with  their  power  of  re- 
sisting when  we  try  to  break  them.  The  leaves  are 
divided  into  three  parts,  containing  five  or  seven,  lan- 
ceolate, toothed  leaflets,  each.  The  tiny  golden-yel- 
low flowers  are  arranged  in  terminal  heads  consist- 
ing of  numerous  wide-spread,  little  umbels. 

WILD  CARROT;  BIRD'S  NEST;  QUEEN  ANNE'S 
LACE  (Daucus  Carota)  (EUROPEAN).  While  to 
flower  lovers,  this  may  appear  to  be  the  most  beauti- 
ful species  of  the  family,  it  is  the  most  heartily  de- 
tested weed  with  which  the  farmer  has  to  contend. 
It  is  very  prolific,  and  each  individual  plant  strikes 
its  roots  deep  into  the  ground,  as  though  determined 
to  defy  extermination.  It  is  a  very  near  relative  to, 
and  by  some  supposed  to  be,  the  species  from  which 
our  cultivated  carrots  descended.  The  fully  opened 
flower  clusters  have  an  exquisite,  lace-like  appear- 
ance, while  those  half-opened  are  hollowed  sugges- 
tively like  a  bird's  nest;  in  the  center  of  the  cluster, 
is  a  tiny  purple  floret,  all  the  others  being  white. 


A.     FLOWERING  DOGWOOD. 

Cornus  florida. 

B.     DWARF   CORNELL;   BUNCHBERRY. 
Cornus  canadensis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         231 

DOGWOOD  FAMILY  (Cornaceae). 

FLOWERING  DOGWOOD  (Cornus  florida)  is  a  tall 
shrub  or  tree,  ranging  in  height  from  7  to  40  feet.  It 
is  in  reality  outside  the  scope  of  this  book,  as  we  do 
not  aim  to  include  shrubs  or  trees,  but  Dogwood  is 
so  conspicuous  in  flower  and  so  closely  related  to  the 
following  species,  that  it  has  been  included.  The 
large  handsome  flowers  are  in  full  bloom  before  or 
just  as  the  leaves  commence  to  appear.  So  profuse- 
ly do  the  large  white,  flowers,  measuring  2  to  4 
inches  across,  cover  the  whole  tree  that  the  appear- 
ance, from  a  little  distance,  is  as  though  the  tree  were 
mantled  with  snow. 

The  four,  large,  notched  segments  are  not  petals,  but 
form  the  involucre  and  the  real  flowers  are  clustered 
at  the  center;  they  have  four  tiny  greenish-white  pet- 
als and  numerous  little  stamens.  This  Dogwood  is 
common  in*  dry  woods  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  south 
to  the  Gulf. 

BUNCHBERRY;  DWARF  CORNEL  (Cornus  can- 
adensis)  is  really  a  dwarf  as  compared  to  the  preced- 
ing, for  it  grows  only  from  4  to  8  inches  high. 

The  stem  is  leafless  except  at  the  top,  at  which 
point,  four  to  six  leaves  radiate;  they  are  ovate-point- 
ed, shining  yellow-green  and  have  five  or  more  deep, 
parallel  ribs.  They  usually  grow  in  colonies,  often  so 
closely  together  that  the  leaves  overlap  and  obscure 
the  ground. 

What  appears  like  a  singled  large  blossom  seated 
almost  within  the  whorl  of  leaves,  is  in  reality  a  clus- 
ter of  tiny,  green-peta-lled,  4-parted  flowers  surround- 
ed by  four  large  greenish-white  bracts;  these  pointed 
outer  divisions  form  what  is  termed  the  involucre  of 
the  flowers. 

In  Pall  a  cluster  of  scarlet  berries  takes  the  place 
of  the  flowers,  so  the  plant  is  attractive  at  all  sea- 
sons. It  ranges  from  Labrador  to  Alaska  south  to 
N.  J.,  Ind.  and  Minn. 


A.     SPOTTED  WINTERGREEN. 

Chimaphila  maculata. 

B.      PIPSISSEWA;  PRINCESS  PINE. 

Chimaphila  umbellata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         233 

HEATH   FAMILY  (Ericaceae). 

A  family  of  shrubs  or  herbs  having  perfect  and 
usually  regular  flowers,  with  four  or  five  petals  and 
the  same  number,  or  twice  as  many,  stamens. 

Divided  into  three  sub-families,  the  Pyrola  (Pyrol- 
oideae),  the  Indian  Pipe  (Monotropoideae)  and  the 
Heath  (Ericoideae). 

PYROLA   SUBFAMILY. 

SPOTTED  WINTERGREEN  (Chimaphila  macula- 
ta)  is  a  very  handsome  plant  that  we  often  come 
across  in  our  rambles  through  rich  woodland.  It  is  a 
species  one  cannot  mistake,  for  no  other  is  like  it. 
The  stalk,  that  rises  from  3  to  9  inches  high,  is  of  a 
ruddy  color;  the  leaves  are  thick,  smooth,  irregularly 
toothed,  lance-shaped,  pointed  and  with  conspicuous 
whitish  streaks  following  the  veins.  In  July  and 
August,  it  bears  one  to  five  nodding  flowers  on  long, 
erect  peduncles  above  the  topmost  whorl  of  leaves; 
the  five  rosy  or  cream-colored  petals  have  a  frail, 
translucent,  waxy  appearance  that  characterizes 
members  of  this  sub-family. 

As  would  be  imagined  from  its  name,  the  leaves 
of  this  species  remain  on  the  plant  through  the  win- 
ter. Because  of  this  fact  and  their  beauty,  they  are 
in  demand  for,  and  make  excellent  plants  in  ferner- 
ies. It  ranges  from  Me.,  Ontario  and  Minn,  south- 
ward to  Ga.  and  Miss. 

PIPSISSEWA;  PRINCE'S  PINE  (Chimaphila  um- 
bel lata)  grows  in  similar  localities  and  is  generally 
more  common  than  the  last.  Its  leaves  are  usually 
in  two  whorls  about  the  brownish  stem;  they  are 
bright  shining  green,  toothed,  unspotted,  pointed,  but 
broadened  towards  the  end.  The  flowers  are  similar 
to  the  last  and  are  in  a  loose  2  to  8-flowered  umbel. 
The  style  is  very  short,  with  a  five-parted  gummy 
stigma;  the  ten  stamens  have  double,  purplish  anth- 
ers. This  species  is  found  from  N.  S.  to  Ga.  and  west 
to  the  Pacific  Coast. 


A.     SHIN-LEAF.     Pyrola  elliptica. 
B.      ONE-FLOWERED  PYROLA.     Pyrola  uniflora. 
C.     INDIAN  PIPE.     Monotropa  uniflora. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         235 

SHIN-LEAF  (Pyrola  elliptica)  is  the  most  common 
of  the  Pyrolas.  During  the  greater  part  of  the  year 
it  is  composed  of  a  tuft  of  thin  leaves,  almost  pros- 
trate on  the  ground.  The  evergreen  leaves  are 
bright  green,  obscurely  toothed,  broadly  elliptical  and" 
narrowing  into  long  stems  that  clasp  at  the  base. 
During  May  a  long,  smooth  scape  springs  from  the  mid- 
dle of  the  group  of  basal  leaves  to  a  height  of  5  to  10 
inches,  bearing  near  its  top  a  raceme  of  many  buds; 
during  June  and  July,  these  buds  expand  into  nodding 
flowers;  each  has  five  waxy-white  petals,  a  small,  five- 
parted,  green  calyx  and  a  long  curving  pistil. 

The  name  Shin-leaf  was  applied  because  the  leaves 
were  formerly  used  for,  and  supposed  to  cure,  sores 
or  bruises.  It  is  common  throughout  the  United 
States  and  southern  Canada. 

ONE-FLOWERED  PYROLA  (Moneses  uniflora)  ex- 
ternally closely  resembles  the  preceding  species;  in 
reality  it  is  intermediate  between  the  Pyrolas  and 
Chimaphila.  The  leaves,  clustered  at  the  apex  of 
creeping  subterranean  shoots,  are  thin,  rounded,  shal-. 
low-toothed  and  on  slender  trough-shaped  stems.  The 
flower  scape  is  from  2  to  5  inches  high,  has  a  few 
scale-like  bracts,  and  at  the  summit  bears,  during 
June  or  July,  a  single  nodding  flower,  with  five  ivory- 
white  petals,  ten  white  stamens  with  large,  two-point- 
ed anthers  and  a  prominent,  club-shaped,  green  pistil. 
It  ranges  from  Labrador  to  Alaska  and  south  to  Pa. 
and  Minn. 

INDIAN  PIPE,  CORPSE  PLANT  (Monotropa  uni- 
flora) is  a  very  peculiar,  ghostly  appearing  plant 
found  commonly  in  dimly-lighted,  rich  woods.  It  has 
no  green  foliage,  just  white  bract-like  appendages  on 
its  upright,  white,  cold,  clammy  stem.  A  single  white 
flower  nods  from  the  top.  It  is  parasitic,  drawing  its 
nourishment  from  living  roots  or  decaying  vegetable 
matter.  Common  throughout  our  range, 


WHITE  AZALEA;  SWAMP  HONEYSUCKLE. 
Rhododendron   viscosum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         237 

SWAMP       HONEYSUCKLE;       WHITE      AZALEA 

(Rhododendron  viscosum)  is  a  most  beautiful  swamp 
shrub  with  handsome,  fragrant,  white  flowers.  In 
low,  wet  swamps  it  is  very  common  and  blooms  very 
profusely  during  June  and  July.  The  bush  is  from  3 
to  8  feet  in  height  and  very  branchy.  The  leaves  are 
long-oval,  broadest  towards  the  blunt-pointed  tip  and 
narrowing  to  short  stems. 

The  beautiful  flowers  are  pure  white,  or  rarely 
tinged  with  pink;  the  tube  of  the  long  corolla  is  cov- 
ered with  very  sticky,  brownish  hairs,  and  termin- 
ates in  five,  large,  pointed,  spreading  lobes.  The 
stamens  are  very  long,  slender  and  white,  and  tipped 
with  yellow  anthers.  The  five-pointed  calyx  is  very 
small  and  inconspicuous. 

Besides  being  quite  fragrant,  the  flowers  secrete 
considerable  nectar  in  the  base  of  the  tube,  and  are, 
consequently,  favorites  with  many  species  of  but- 
terflies, moths  and  bees.  Pilfering  insects,  like  ants, 
are  unable  to  reach  the  nectar  tube,  because  of  the 
very  sticky  exterior  of  the  corolla.  This  species  has 
the  branchlets,  and  the  margins  and  midribs  of  the 
leaves,  bristly,  this  distinguishing  it  from  the  very 
similar  Smooth  Azalea  (R.  arborescens).  The  corolla 
tubes  of  both  these  species  are  much  longer  than 
the  spreading  lobes,  this  readily  distinguishing  them 
readily  from  the  Pink  Azalea  in  which  the  tube  is 
about  the  same  length  as  the  lobes. 

During  the  early  time  of  their  bloom,  all  the  Aza- 
leas bear,  hanging  among  the  fragrant  flowers,  pe- 
culiar, juicy,  pulpy  growths  that  are  edible,  as  any 
well  bred  farmer's  boy  knows;  he  calls  them  May  or 
Swamp  Apples,  but  they  are  really  modified  buds  and 
not  fungus  growths  or  caused  by  insects,  as  was  for- 
merly believed.  These  beautiful  Azaleas  are  found 
from  Me.  to  Ohio  and  southwards. 


A.     PINK  AZALEA. 
Rhododendron  nudiflorum. 

B.      RHODORA. 
Rhododendron  canadense. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         Z3Q 

PINK  AZALEA;  PINXTER  FLOWER,  (WILD  HON- 
EY-SUCKLE) (Rhododendron  nudiflorum)  is  one  of 
our  most  interesting  wild  shrubs,  interesting  because 
the  flowers  bloom  before  the  leaves  appear,  or  just 
as  they  commence  to  grow,  and  because  of  the  very 
beautiful  colors  its  pink  flowers  impart  to  our  swamps 
during  April  and  early  May.  The  flowers  are  prac- 
tically the  same  in  form  as  the  white  varieties,  ex- 
cept that  the  corolla-tube  is  shorter.  The  color 
varies  from  just  a  rosy  blush  to  a  crimson  pink. 
This  added  coloring  seems  to  be  at  the  expense  of 
fragrance,  for  this  species,  while  sweet  scented,  is 
not  nearly  as  fragrant  as  the  White  Azalea.  When 
the  blossoms  commence  to  fade,  they  loosen  at  the 
base  and  slip  down  on  the  long  stamens,  where  they- 
often  remain  suspended  for  several  days  before  fall- 
ing off. 

Pink  Azalea  grows  in  open  woods  or  swamps  from 
Me.  to  111.  and  southwards. 

FLAME-COLORED  AZALEA  (R.  calendulaceum)  is 
a  similar  species  well  described  by  its  names.  Its 
large  blossoms  are  orange,  usually  turning  red,  but 
are  not  fragrant,  a  still  further  loss  of  fragrance  in 
conjunction  with  a  brightening  of  color.  The  corolla 
tube  is  shorter  than  the  lobes.  This  species  is  found 
from  southern  N.  Y.  to  Ga. 

RHODORA  (Rhododendron  canadense)  is  a  beau- 
tiful member  of  this  family,  immortalized  in  verse  by 
Emerson.  It  is  a  smaller  shrub  growing  from  1  to  3 
feet  high.  The  flowers  usually  appear  before  the  pale 
green,  oblong  leaves;  the  corolla  is  about  one  inch 
long,  light  magenta,  and  two-lipped.  The  upper  lip 
is  3-lobed  and  the  lower  is  nearly  divided  into  two 
distinct,  linear  petals.  They  grow  in  thin  clusters 
terminating  the  branches.  Rhodora  is  found  on  damp 
hillsides  and  in  swamps  from  Newfoundland  to  Que- 
bec and  south  to  N.  J.  and  Pa.,  flowering  during  May 
and  June. 


GREAT  LAUREL;  RHODODENDRON. 
Rhododendron  maximum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         241 

AMERICAN  RHODODENDRON;  GREAT  LAUREL 
(Rhododendron  maximum)  is  a  large,  tall  and  very 
ornamental  shrub  growing  from  5  to  35  feet  high.  It 
is  one  of  the  most  characteristic  shrubs  of  the  Alle- 
gheny Mountain  region,  where  it  grows  in  such  pro- 
fusion as  to  form  almost  impenetrable  thickets.  As 
it  is  a  very  hardy  shrub  and  not  injured  by  trans- 
planting, it  is  very  often  used  for  decorative  effects 
in  parks  and  about  private  dwellings. 

The  oblong  leaves  are  deep,  glossy  green,  tough 
and  leathery  in  texture  and  have  a  smooth,  slightly 
rolled-under  edge.  They  droop  in  the  winter  season 
but  are  wide  spread  in  summer. 

At  the  ends  of  the  numerous  branches,  during 
June  and  July,  are  showy  clusters  of  pink  or  white 
flowers.  Each  blossom  spreads  nearly  two  inches 
and  is  composed  of  five,  broad,  blunt-ended  petals 
of  a  pink-white  color,  spotted  with  golden-orange. 
They  have  ten  spreading  stamens  and  a  small  pistil. 
The  flowers  are  visited  most  often  by  the  common 
bumblebee.  Each  flower  stem  is  sticky  to  prevent 
crawling  insects  from  visiting  the  interior  of  the  blos- 
som; such  insects  usually  have  smooth,  shining 
bodies  not  capable  of  transferring  pollen  and  are  use- 
less to  the  welfare  of  the  plant. 

Rhododendron  is  found  in  rich,  hilly  or  mountain- 
ous woods,  commonly  from  Pa.  to  Ga.  but  rarly 
northwards  to  Ontario  and  Nova  Scotia. 

MOUNTAIN  ROSE  BAY  (R.  catawbiense)  is  a 
similar  species  found  in  the  higher  mountains  from 
Va.  to  Ga.  It  has  oblong,  round-ended  leaves  and 
flowers  with  a  broad,  bell-shaped  corolla  of  lilac- 
purple  petals. 

LAPLAND  ROSE  BAY  (R.  lapponicum)  is  a  dwarf 
species  with  small  elliptical  leaves  and  a  prostrate 
stem,  both  dotted  with  rusty  scales,  and  small  purple 
flowers.  It  is  found  from  N.  Y.  and  Me.  to  the  Artie 
regions. 

16 


MOUNTAIN  LAUREL. 
Kalmia  latifolia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies 

MOUNTAIN     LAUREL;     SPOON-WOOD     (Kalmia 

latifolia)  is  one  of  the  most  popular  of  our  beautiful 
flowering  shrubs.  In  the  North  it  grows  from  3  to 
8  feet  in  height,  but  in  the  Southern  States  it  often 
attains  heights  of  20  to  30  feet.  Its  evergreen  leaves 
lend  themselves  very  readily  to  decorative  effects  and 
are  used  in  large  quantities  for  wreaths,  so  many  are 
used,  in  fact,  that  Laurel  is  becoming  scarce  near 
the  larger  cities  of  New  England.  Laurel  often  grows 
in  dense  thickets,  so  dense,  in  fact,  that  it  is  some- 
times impossible  to  force  a  way  through  them. 

The  leaves  are  dark  glossy  green,  pointed  at  each 
end  and  oblong  in  shape;  they  are  arranged  alter- 
nately along  the  branches  and  in  dense  terminal  clus- 
ters. The  flowers  are  very  peculiar  in  their  construc- 
tion, the  corolla  being  deep  saucer  or  bowl-shaped, 
with  five  short,  broad  lobes;  on  the  outside,  around 
the  bottom  edge  of  the  "bowl,"  are  ten  small  humps, 
that  inside  the  corolla  form  little  pockets  to  receive 
the  anthers  of  the  slender  white  stamens,  curving 
from  the  center  of  the  blossom  like  the  spokes  of  a 
wheel. 

Both  moths  and  bees  visit  these  flowers  in  quest 
of  the  little  supply  of  nectar  that  is  secreted  about 
the  base  of  the  greenish  pistil.  In  order  to  get  at 
it  they  alight  right  in  the  center  of  the  flower,  and 
pollen  they  may  have  brought  from  previous  blos- 
soms visited,  is  quickly  entangled  on  the  sticky  stig- 
ma. As  they  successively  insert  their  proboscis  be- 
tween the  curved  stamens,  these  become  loosened 
from  their  little  pockets  and  spring  upwards,  covering 
the  under  side  of  the  visitor  with  a  fresh  supply  of 
pollen  to  carry  to  another  blossom.  The  flower  stems 
are  sticky  so  that  only  winged  insects  can  get  to 
the  interior.  Laurel  is  common  from  N.  B.  to  Ont. 
and  southwards. 


SHEEP  LAUREL. 
Kalmia  angustifolia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         245 

SHEEP  LAUREL;  LAMBKILL  (Kalmia  angustifol- 

ia)  is  a  small  shrubby  species,  ranging  from  8  to  36 
inches  high  and  is  no  less  beautiful  than  the  pre- 
ceeding.  Besides  the  common  names  given  above,  it 
is  less  often  known  as  "Sheep  Poison"  and  "Wicky," 
a  rather  sinister  lot  of  names  to  be  applied  to  a  shrub 
with  such  handsome  flowers. 

All  of  the  laurels  have  dangerous  properties,  the 
juices  of  the  leaves  being  very  poisonous.  It  is  also 
claimed  that  honey  made  by  bees,  feeding  on  the 
nectar  from  laurel  blossoms,  is  also  poisonous.  This 
species  gets  its  many  names,  referring  to  its  destruc- 
tive effects  on  sheep,  because  it  grows  in  abundance 
in  pastures  suitable  only  for  the  pasturage  of  sheep. 
The  leaves  of  this  small  laurel  look  tempting  but  are 
very  often  fatal  to  the  animals  eating  them. 

The  small,  oblong  leaves  are  rather  closely  set  on 
the  upright,  woody  stems  either  oppositely  or  in 
threes;  they  are  bright  green  above  and  much  paler 
on  the  under  side,  often  spotted  with  rusty;  the  stem 
and  the  midrib  is  of  a  yellowish  shade  of  green. 

The  handsome  flowers  are  grouped  in  clusters 
about  the  middle  of  the  branches  or  near  the  top, 
with  a  dense  cluster  of  light  green  leaves,  of  new 
growth,  just  forcing  its  way  above  them.  Their 
shapes,  forms  and  mechanisms  are  about  like  those 
of  the  Mountain  Laurel,  but  the  color  is  a  beautiful, 
deep  pink;  little  red  anthers  fit  snugly  in  the  ten 
little  pockets  formed  for  them  in  the  surface  of  the 
corolla.  Sheep  Laurel  is  common  from  Lab.  to  Ont. 
and  southwards,  blooming  in  June  and  July. 

PALE  LAUREL  (Kalmia  polifolia)  is  similar  but 
distinguished  by  its  two-edged  branches,  the  whit- 
ish green  under  surface  of  the  leaves  and  their  rolled- 
up  edges.  It  grows  from  Lab.  to  Alaska  and  south- 
wards. 


A.     WINTERGREEN;  CHECKERBERRY. 

B.     ARBUTUS;  MAYFLOWER. 

Epigaea  repens. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         247 

WINTERGREEN;  CHECKERBERRY  (Gaultheria 
procumbens).  I  doubt  if  there  is  a  country  boy  or 
girl  within  the  range  of  this  plant,  and  it  extends 
from  Newfoundland  to  Manitoba  and  southwards  to 
the  Gulf,  who  is  hot  perfectly  familiar  with  it.  In 
Spring  they  search  for  "pippins,"  as  they  term  the 
tender,  young,  yellow-green  leaves  of  the  new  shoots 
that  spring  up  on  reddish  stalks;  the  leaves  have  a 
very  palatable,  spicy,  flavor,  when  they  first  appear. 
In  Pall,  children  troop  to  the  woods  and  gather  the 
bright,  luscious  checkerberries,  competing  with  one 
another  to  see  who  will  find  the  plant  with  the  large- 
est  number  of  berries;  ordinarily  there  are  but  two 
to  a  plant,  but  occasionally  we  may  find  five,  six  or 
even  eight  of  them  hanging  beneath  the  sheltering 
leaves. 

The  leaves  are  all  clustered  at  the  top  of  the  rud- 
dy stem  that  grows  from  2  to  5  inches  high;  those  of 
adult  plants  are  deep,  shining  green,  ovate-pointed 
and  very  sparingly  toothed.  Usually  two  white,  tubu- 
lar, 5-notched  flowers  hang  on  slender  peduncles, 
just  beneath  the  spreading  leaves,  during  July  and 
August. 

TRAILING  ARBUTUS;  MAYFLOWER  (Epigaea 
repens).  Probably  no  flower,  especially  in  New  Eng- 
land, is  as  eagerly  sought  nor  as  highly  prized  as  the 
early  blooming  Mayflower.  In  fact  its  haunts  are 
ravaged  so  thoroughly  that  one  has  to  go  farther  from 
the  city  limits  each  year  in  order  to  find  them.  Ar- 
butus is  a  creeping  plant;  the  stems  are  tough,  hairy 
and  branched;  they  spread  out  along  the  ground  for 
6  to  15  inches  from  the  root.  The  evergreen,  alter- 
nating leaves  are  tough,  oval,  slightly  heart-shaped 
at  the  base,  net-veined  and  toothless.  The  flowers 
are  in  terminal  clusters,  opening  in  April  and  May. 
They  are  5-parted,  delicate  pink  and  have  a  fragrance 
similar  to  that  of  the  Water  Lily.  Arbutus  grows 
throughout  the  eastern  half  of  our  continent  on  shady, 
rocky  hillsides. 


A.     LABRADOR  TEA. 

Ledum  groenlandicum. 

B.      PYXIE;  FLOWERING  Moss. 

Pyxidanthera  barbatula. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         249 

LABRADOR  TEA  (Ledum  groenlandicum)  is  an 
erect  shrub  growing  from  1  to  3  feet  high.  It  is  not 
uncommon  in  suitable  places  in  the  eastern  half  of 
Canada,  and  is  found  rarely  in  mountains  south  to 
Conn.,  Pa.,  and  Minn.;  its  habitat  is  in  bogs  or  damp 
thickets.  The  narrowly  oblong  leaves  are  green 
above,  have  the  edges  rolled  back  and  are  covered  be- 
neath with  a  rusty  wool.  They  alternate  along  the 
stems  the  same  as  do  those  of  the  laurels,  becoming 
more  crowded  towards  the  ends  of  the  branches. 
The  small  white  flowers  are  clustered  at  the  ends  of 
the  branches;  each  has  a  small  five-toothed  calyx, 
five  petals  and  five  or  ten  long  stamens  surrounding 
the  short  pistil. 

LEATHER  LEAF  (Chamaedaphne  calyculata)  is  a 
low,  much-branched  shrub  with  small,  obtuse,  flat, 
leathery  leaves.  Small  white  flowers  grow  in  the 
axils  of  the  upper  leaves,  forming  one-sided  leafy  ra- 
cemes. It  is  found  in  bogs  from  Labrador  to  Brit- 
ish Columbia  and  south  to  Ga.;  111.  and  Minn. 
DIAPENSIA  FAMILY  (Diapensiaceae). 

A  small  family  of  low  herbs,  or  tufted  moss-like 
shrubs  closely  related  to  the  heath  family,  the  chief 
distinction  being  the  insertion  of  the  stamens  on  the 
corolla. 

PYXIE;  FLOWERING  MOSS  (Pyxidanthera  bar- 
bulata).  Pyxie  is  a  very  attractive  moss-like  shrub 
found  commonly  growing  in  the  pine  barrens  of  the 
southeastern  states,  from  N.  J.  to  N.  C..  The 
branches  are  prostrate  and  creep  along  the  ground 
for  6  to  10  inches  from  the  roots. 

Each  branch  is  very  thickly  set  with  tiny,  stiff, 
lance-shaped  leaves  less  than  half  an  inch  in  length. 
The  numerous,  tiny,  white  or  pink  flowers  are  seated 
on  the  stem,  growing  from  the  angles  of  the  leaves; 
they  have  five,  broad-ended  petals  and  attached  be- 
tween each  of  them  is  a  curious,  short,  stout  stamen. 


SEA  LAVENDER;  ROSEMARY. 
Limonium  carolinianum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         251 

LEADWORT  FAMILY  (Plumbaginaceae). 

Seaside  plants  with  perfect,  regular  flowers  in  1-sid- 
ed racemes  or  spikes ;  5-parted  and  with  plaited  calyx. 

MARSH  ROSEMARY;  SEA  LAVENDER  (Limon- 
ium  carolinianum)  is  a  very  characteristic  plant  of 
the  seashore;  it  is  found  very  commonly  in  salt  mar- 
shes along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Labrador  to  Flor- 
ida, and  along  the  Gulf  to  Texas. 

The  plant  has  a  thick,  woody,  very  astringent 
root,  from  which  grows  a  single  naked  stalk.  This 
stem  divides  into  numerous  branches  and  branchlets, 
all  destitute  of  leaves  and  spreading  out  so  that  the 
appearance  of  the  whole  plant  is  that  of  a  very  dim- 
inutive tree.  The  leaves  all  radiate  from  the  root 
at  the  base  of  the  flower  stalk;  they  are  spatulate- 
shaped,  thick,  almost  smooth-edged,  have  a  promin- 
ent mid-rib  and  are  on  long  stems. 

At  the  end  of  each  branchlet.  is  a  slender,  1-sided 
raceme  of  tiny  buds.  From  July  until  September 
these  open  out  into  tiny  lavender  flowers  with  five 
tiny  petals,  each  coming  from  a  5-toothed,  ribbed 
calyx. 

Large  portions  of  marshes  are  often  covered  with 
Marsh  Rosemary,  growing  so  closely  together  that 
the  branches  of  the  different  plants  interlock;  when 
these  are  in  flower,  they  give  a  purplish  misty  appear- 
ance to  the  whole  marsh. 

The  little  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow  is  a  common  bird 
of  the  New  England  salt  marshes.  I  have  often 
found  their  little  homes,  built  of  woven  grasses,  at- 
tached to  the  marsh  grass  and  sheltered  by  little 
patches  of  seaweed  that  had  lodged  in  the  branches 
of  Marsh  Rosemary  during  high  spring  tides. 

If  picked  in  the  early  stages  of  its  bloom,  Sea 
Lavender  retains  the  color,  of  its  flowers  when  dried 
and  is  often  used  for  decorations  in  vases. 


A.     YELLOW  LOOSESTRIFE. 

Lysimachia  terrestris. 

B.     FOUR-LEAVED  LOOSESTRIFE. 

Lysimachia  quadrifolw. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         253 

PRIMROSE  FAMILY  (Primulaceae). 

A  family  of  herbs  having  regular  perfect  flowers 
and  simple  leaves,  arranged  oppositely,  alternately 
or  whorled  about  the  stem. 

YELLOW  LOOSESTRIFE  (Lysimachia  terrestris). 
From  July  until  September,  our  swamps  are  brighten- 
ed by  the  golden-yellow  wand-like  spikes  of  Loose- 
strife, swaying  on  tall,  slender  leafy  stems.  We  of- 
ten find  this  species  growing  in  company  with  the 
following,  but  the  present  one  is  fond  of  very  wet 
places  and  is  most  abundant  in  boggy  swamps  that 
are  impenetrable  unless  shod  especially  for  it.  Yel- 
low Loosestrife  has  a  tall,  slender,  simple  stem  from 
8  to  24  inches  high.  The  leaves  are  pointed-lanceo- 
late, stemless  and  crowded  along  the  stem,  either  op- 
positely or  alternately.  The  flower  spike  is  long  and 
contains  many  buds  on  slender  pedicels;  they  open, 
a  dozen  or  more  at  a  time,  from  the  bottom  of  the 
spike  upwards,  each  plant  thus  being  in  bloom  for 
several  weeks.  Each  flower  has  five,  pointed  golden- 
yellow  petals,  each  with  two  small  reddish  brown 
spots  near  the  base;  the  stamens  and  pistil  project 
in  a  cone-like  cluster,  the  stigma  being  so  far  remov- 
ed from  the  anthers  that  self  fertilization  is  not  apt 
to  occur.  The  setting  of  the  seed  depends  largely 
upon  small  bees  that  visit  the  flowers  for  pollen. 
This  Loosestrife  is  abundant  from  Newfoundland  to 
Hudson  Bay  and  southwards. 

FOUR  LEAVED  LOOSESTRIFE  (Lysimachia  quad- 
rifolia)  is  also  a  very  common  species  found  in  low 
land  in  about  the  same  range.  The  flowers  are  very 
similar  but  each  petal  has  a  single  large  spot  of  red- 
dish brown  at  its  base  instead  of  a  double  one;  the 
flowers  appear  from  the  axils  of  the  upper  leaves.  The 
pointed,  lanceolate  leaves  are  whorled  about  the 
stem  usually  in  groups  of  fours,  occasionally  more  or 
less. 


SHOOTING  STAR;  AM.  COWSLIP. 

Dodocatheon  meadia. 

B.        MYRTLE;  MONEYWORT. 

Lysimachia  Nummularia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         255 

SHOOTING   STAR;    AMERICAN    COWSLIP    (Dod- 

ecatheon  Meadia)  is  a  western  species  that  grows  in 
open  woodlands  and  on  prairies  from  Pa.  and  Md.  to 
Manitoba  and  southwards  through  the  Mississippi 
Valley. 

The  leaves  are  all  in  a  tuft  radiating  from  the  base; 
they  are  oblong,  bluntly-pointed  and  taper  into  trough- 
like  stems.  From  the  center  of  this  cluster  of  leaves 
rises  a  bare  flower  stalk,  8  to  20  inches  tall,  branch- 
ing at  the  summit  into  several  slender,  curving  pe- 
duncles, each  suporting  a  single  nodding  flower. 

The  flowers  have  five,  light  magenta,  pink  or 
even  white  petals  each  sharply  reflexed  and  with 
purplish  spots  near  the  bases.  The  stamens  project 
from  the  throat  of  the  flower,  the  five  golden  anthers 
forming  a  conspicuous  cone,  within  which  is  the  slen- 
der pistil.  The  pistil  matures  before  the  anthers  so 
that  cross-fertilization  is  necessary  and  is  performed 
by  bees,  that,  in  endeavoring  to  reach  the  little  store 
of  nectar  at  the  bottom  of  the  flower,  must  force  their 
tongue  between  the  anthers  and  come  in  contact  with 
the  stigma.  Shooting  Star  blooms  in  April  and  May. 

MONEYWORT;  MYRTLE  (Lysimachia  Nummular- 
ia)  (EUROPEAN)  is  a  very  dainty  and  beautiful 
trailing  or  creeping  vine,  often  spreading  over  large- 
surfaces  of  ground.  It  is  found  in  this  country  as  an 
escape  from  cultivation;  it  is  a  most  beautiful  plant 
for  rockeries  and  does  well  in  the  house  in  hanging 
pots,  the  long  slender,  beautifully  leaved  branches 
drooping  over  the  edge  of  the  pot,  giving  a  very  de- 
corative effect.  When  in  bloom,  its  beauty  is  great- 
ly enhanced  by  the  large,  yellow,  star-like  flowers. 
The  leaves,  that  grow  oppositely  all  along  the  stem, 
are  almost  round;  it  is  from  their  shape  and  the  fact 
that  they  are  about  the  size  of  the  English  twopence 
that  they  originally  received  the  name  of  Moneywort. 
It  blooms  from  June  until  August. 


FRINGED  LOOSESTRIFE. 
Steironema  ciliatum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         257 

FRINGED  LOOSESTRIFE  (Steironema  ciliatum) 
Fringed  Loosestrife  is  a  very  branching  herb  not  at 
all  like  the  other  varieties.  The  smooth  stem  rises 
to  heights  of  from  12  to  24  inches.  The  species 
receives  its  specific  name  Fringed,  (ciliatum,)  be- 
cause of  the  fine  hairs  on  the  upper  side  of  the  leaf 
stems,  the  rest  of  the  plant  being  smooth. 

The  smooth,  light  green  leaves  are  lance-shaped 
and  pointed,  on  short  petioles  or  stems  growing  oppos- 
itely an  the  plant  stem.  The  flowers  grow  on  slen- 
der pedicels  from  the  axils  of  the  terminal  leaves; 
the  golden-yellow  corolla  is  divided  into  five  ovate 
lobes,  each  terminating  in  a  sharp,  twisted  or  muc- 
ronate  point;  around  the  center  of  the  corolla  is  a 
reddish  brown  ring,  formed  by  small  spots  at  the  bas- 
es of  the  five  lobes.  The  pale  green  pistil  in  the  cen-. 
ter  is  surrounded  by  ten  stamens,  five  being  fertile 
and  the  other  alternating  ones  being  abortive. 

The  sight  of  any  familiar  plant  usually  recalls  to 
our  minds  some  particular  incident  connected  with 
it,  usually  the  place  in  which  we  have  previously 
found  it  most  abundantly.  The  present  species  al- 
ways brings  before  me  a  certain  swamp,  regarded  as 
utterly  worthless  by  persons  not  interested  in  living 
creatures  or  plant  life,  but  a  veritable  paradise  for 
the  botanist,  entomologist  and  ornithologist.  I  have 
never  seen  the  present  species  growing  as  abundantly 
anywhere  as  in  this  swamp. 

Fringed  Loosestrife  is  common  in  low  ground  and 
thickets  from  Newfoundland  to  British  Columbia 
southwards  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

S.  lanceolatum  is  a  similar  but  more  slender  spe- 
ies  with  narrow  leaves  and  smaller  flowers,  the  latter 
measuring  about  one-half  inch  across.  It  is  found 
from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards  in  the  same  hab- 
itats as  the  preceding. 

17 


A.     STAR  FLOWER. 
Trientalis  americana. 

B.     PIMPERNEL. 
Anagallis  arvensis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         259 

STAR  FLOWER  (Trientalis  americana)  is  a  very 
dainty  little  plant  often  called  the  "Star  Anemone," 
because  of  its  color,  the  position  of  the  flower  above 
the  whorl  of  leaves  and  the  fact  that  it  is  often 
found  blooming  very  closely  to  the  Anemones. 

The  perennial  rootstalk  is  long  and  horizontal  and 
throws  up  a  single,  smooth,  slender  stalk  from  3  to  9 
inches  high;  at  the  top  of  this  stalk  is  a  whorl  of 
from  five  to  ten,  thin,  smooth,  veiny  light  green  leaves ; 
they  are  lance-shaped  and  sharply  pointed.  During 
May  and  June  a  solitary  blossom,  (rarely  two,)  ap- 
pears above  the  whorl  of  leaves  on  a  very  slender 
pedicel.  The  delicate  white  petals  are  sharply 
pointed  and  range  from  six  to  eight  in  number;  the 
wide-spread  stamens  have  tiny  golden  anthers  that 
mature  later  than  the  little  stigma.  Fertilization  is 
effected  by  the  visits  of  small  bees  that  visit  the  at- 
tractive little  flower  for  pollen.  The  Star  Flower 
is  found  in  thin  woodland  from  Labrador  to  Mani- 
toba and  south  to  Va.,  111.,  and  Minn. 

PIMPERNEL;  POOR  MAN'S  WEATHER-GLASS 
(Anagallis  arvensis)  (EUROPEAN)  is  a  flower  read- 
ily identified;  in  the  first  place  there  are  very  few 
red  flowers  to  be  found  and  no  others  with  the  shade 
of  red  of  this  one,  a  salmon  or  coppery-red.  The 
square  stem  is  smooth,  slender  and  rather  weak, 
often  lying  prostrate  on  the  ground.  The  small  oval 
leaves  clasp  the  stem  oppositely. 

The  flowers  grow  singly,  either  on  slender  pedi- 
cels terminating  the  stem  or  from  the  axils  of  the 
outer  leaves.  They  are  five-parted,  wheel-shaped, 
each  division  being  finely  toothed  at  its  apex.  They 
are  very  sensitive,  opening  only  in  sunshine  and 
closing  quickly  when  the  sun  is  obscured,  and  usual- 
ly at  four  o'clock  anyway.  It  is  found  in  waste  sandy 
places  especially  near  the  coast. 


A.  YELLOW  FALSE  JESSAMINE. 
Gelsemium  sempervirens. 

B.  INDIAN  PINK;  PINK  ROOT. 

Spigelia  marilandica. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         261 

LOGANIA    FAMILY    (Loganiaceae) 

A  small  family  of  herbs,  shrubs  or  trees  with  en- 
tire-edged, opposite  leaves,  usually  with  stipules, 
and  with  regular,  perfect,  four  or  five-parted  flowers; 
forming  a  connecting  link  between  the  Gentian,  Dog- 
bane and  Rose  Families. 

YELLOW  FALSE  JESSAMINE  (Gelsemium  sem- 
pervirens.)  This  beautiful  vine  is  very  common  in 
the  Southern  States  where  it  may  be  found  climb- 
ing the  trunks  of  trees,  trailing  over  bushes  or  even 
creeping  over  the  ground.  During  March  and  April, 
large,  handsome  yellow  flowers  appear  in  one-sid- 
ed spikes.  The  blossoms  are  tubular-funnel-form  and 
range  from  one  to  two  inches  in  length;  the  opening 
is  spreading  and  divided  into  five  lobes.  The  five 
stamens  are  tipped  with  saggittate  anthers  and  the 
two  slender  pistils  have  two-parted  stigmas. 

The  ovate-pointed  leaves,  that  grow  oppositely  on 
short  petioles,  are  evergreen;  the  short  flower  spikes 
grow  from  their  axils.  Tha  stem  is  smooth,  woody  and 
twining.  This  species  ranges  from  Va.  to  Fla.  and 
Texas. 

INDIAN  PINK;  PINK-ROOT  (Spigelia  marilan- 
dica)  is  an  erect  herb  found  in  rich  woods  from  Ohio 
and  Ky.  to  Fla.  and  Texas.  It  is  a  perennial  with 
a  simple  stem  rising  from  1  to  2  feet  high.  The 
pointed,  ovate-lanceolate  leaves  are  seated  opposite- 
ly on  the  stem,  united  by  stipules.  The  flowers  grow 
in  a  short,  one-sided  spike;  the  corolla  is  tubular-fun- 
nel-form, 5-lobed  at  the  end  and  about  one  or  two 
inches  in  length.  The  inside  of  the  tube  is  a  bright 
yellow  and  the  outside  a  dull  red.  The  five  stamens, 
with  their  linear  anthers,  are  long  and  appear  be- 
yond the  end  of  the  tube.  The  single  style  is  slender 
and  hairy  above. 

The  roots  have  a  pink  juice  that  may  be  used  for 
coloring,  a  property  instrumental  in  giving  the  plant 
its  common  names. 


A.     ROSE  PINK. 

Sabatia  angularis. 

B.     SEA  PINK. 

Sabatia  stellaris. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         263 
GENTIAN   FAMILY  (Gentianaceae). 

A  family  of  beautifully  flowered  herbs  having 
smooth  stems  and  simple,  opposite  and  sessile  leaves. 
They  also  agree  in  having  regular,  perfect  flowers. 

ROSE  PINK  (Sabatia  angularis)  is  the  most  wide- 
ly distributed  of  the  Sabbatias.  Whereas  the  rest 
of  the  tribe  are  confined  in  a  range  very  close  to  the 
seacoast,  this  species  is  commonly  found  in  rich 
ground  in  all  the  states  from  the  Mississippi  River 
to  the  Atlantic.  It  is  found  most  abundantly  in  mea- 
dows or  along  ditches,  but  also  grows  in  comparative- 
ly dry  land  too.  Its  period  of  bloom  is  during  July 
and  August. 

Rose  Pink  is  a  handsome  plant  when  in  bloom;  the 
stem  is  square  and  grooved,  branches  considerably 
and  rises  2  to  3  feet  high.  The  ovate-lanceolate 
leaves  are  stemless  and  seated  oppositely  on  the  stem. 
The  branches  usually  divide  near  their  ends,  each 
division  bearing  a  beautiful  flower  about  an  inch 
across.  At  the  center  of  the  five-parted,  pink  corolla 
is  a  yellow-green  star,  a  feature  that  is  quite  charac- 
teristic with  members  of  this  family.  The  calyx  is 
composed  of  five  very  narrow  sepals. 

The  roots  have  very  bitter  properties  that  are  of 
use  medicinally;  because  of  the  diligence  with  which 
it  is  hunted  for  the  sake  of  these  roots,  it  is  yearly 
growing  less  abundant. 

SEA  PINK  (Sabatia  stellaris)  is  a  beautiful,  slen- 
der species  common  on  salt  marshes  from  Me.  to 
Fla.  The  pink  flowers  grow  singly  at  the  ends  of  the 
slender  branches.  Like  that  of  the  last  species, 
the  center  is  yellow-green  but  is  often  edged  with  a 
deep  crimson  which  adds  greatly  to  the  attractive- 
ness of  the  blossom.  The  oval  leaves  are  very 
small,  almost  bract-like,  at  the  ends  of  the  branches, 


w 


1  • 

SABBATIA. 
Sabatia  dodecandra. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         265 

LARGE  MARSH  PINK;  SABBATIA  (Sabatia  dod- 
ecandra)  is  the  largest  flowered  and  the  most  beauti- 
ful species  of  this  genus;  in  fact,  it  is  one  of  the  most 
delicately  beautiful  flowers  of  our  wild  flowers. 

During  July  and  August,  along  the  Atlantic  coast, 
we  sometimes  find  brackish  ponds,  the  shores  and 
muddy  flats  of  which  have  a  ruddy  glow  owing  to 
the  number  of  these  large  attractive  blossoms  that 
appear.  The  stems  are  slender  and  wiry,  and  but 
little  branched;  they  attain  heights  of  1  to  2  feet, 
each  branch  bearing  usually  but  a  single  blossom. 

The  flowers  measure  from  two  to  two  and  one-half 
inches  across;  the  nine  to  twelve  petals  are  a  deli- 
cate rose  color  and  each  has,  at  its  base,  a  yellow- 
green  spot  margined  by  a  three-pointed  ochre  or  crim- 
son border.  The  corolla  has  a  regular,  symmetrical 
wheel-like  apearance,  the  petals  making  the  spokes 
and  the  yellow  center  forming  the  hub.  The  calyx  is 
composed  of  linear  sepals  to  the  same  number  as  the 
petals.  The  stamens  are  quite  widely  separated  from 
the  slender  style  so  that  self-fertilization  is  hardly 
to  be  expected.  Of  course  such  beautiful  flowers 
have  hosts  of  insect  admirers,  most  beneficial  of 
which  are  some  of  the  bee-like  flies  that  are  usual- 
ly to  be  found  about  them. 

SLENDER  MARSH  PINK  (S.  gracilis)  is  very  sim- 
ilar to  stellaris,  but  the  stem  is  very  slender  and 
the  leaves  are  linear.  The  flowers  are  about  the 
same  size,  with  the  petals  averaging  a  trifle  more 
narrow.  The  linear  sepals  are  fully  as  long  as  the 
petals,  with  which  they  alternate.  This  species  is 
found  along  the  coast  from  Conn,  to  Fla. 

LANCE-LEAVED  SABBATIA  (S.  lanceolata)  is  a 
narrow-leaved  variety  found  in  pine  barrens  from 
N.  J.  to  Fla.  The  flowers  terminating  the  slender 
branches  are  white,  star-like  and  about  one  inch 
across. 


FRINGED  GENTIAN, 
Gentiana  crinita. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         267 

FRINGED    GENTIAN    (Gentiana   crinita),   because 
of   its    exquisite   beauty   and   comparative    rarity,   is 
one  of  the  most  highly  prized  of  our  wild  flowers. 
Surely  it  needs  no  introduction  to  our  readers  for  has 
not  Bryant  immortalized  it  in  his  verse: 
"Thou  waitest  late,  and  com'st  alone 
When  woods  are  bare  and  birds  have  flown, 
And  frosts  and  shortening  days  portend 
The  aged  year  is  near  his  end." 
"Then  doth  thy  sweet  and  quiet  eye 
Look  through  its  fringes  to  the  sky, 
Blue — blue — as  if  that  sky  let  fall 
A  flower   from   its   cerulean   wall." 
The  Fringed  Gentian  is  rather  a  fickle  plant;   we 
may  find  it  in  a  certain  locality  one  year  and  then 
search  in  vain  for  it  for  the  next  few  years.     It  is 
an  annual  and,  unless  the  seed  is  properly  set  and 
conditions  favorable,  we  will  fail  to  find  it  next  year 
even  though  it  be  abundant  in   certain  places  this. 
The  stem  is  stout,  stiff  and  branching,  each  branch 
being  erect  and  terminating  in  a  bud.     The  yellow- 
green  leaves  are  ovate-lanceolate,  seated  oppositely 
on  the  stem. 

The  calyx  is  angular,  has  four  sharp  points  and 
is  a  bronze-green  in  color.  During  September  and 
October  we  may  find  these  blossoms  fully  expanded, 
delicate,  vase-shaped  creations  with  four  spreading 
deeply-fringed  lobes  bearing  no  resemblence  in  shape 
or  form  to  any  other  American  species.  The  color 
is  a  violet-blue,  the  color  that  is  most  attractive  to 
bumblebees,  and  it  is  to  these  insects  that  the  flow- 
er is  indebted  for  the  setting  of  its  seed.  The  anth- 
ers mature  before  the  stigma  is  developed  so  that 
self-fertilization  is  impossible.  The  flowers  are  wide 
open  only  during  sunshine,  furling  in  their  peculiar 
twisted  manner  on  cloudy  days  and  at  night.  In 
moist  woods  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 


A.     DOWNY  GENTIAN. 

Gentiana  puberula. 

B.     SOLITARY  GENTIAN. 

Gentiana  porphyrio. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         269 

DOWNY  GENTIAN  (Gentiana  puberula)  is  a  hand- 
some species  springing  from  a  perennial  root,  the 
simple,  straight  stem,  rising  from  8  to  18  inches  high; 
the  stem  is  usually  rough  and  slightly  hairy.  The 
light  green  leaves  are  stiff  and  seated  oppositely  on 
the  stem.  The  flowers  are  borne  in  terminal  clus- 
ters or,  sometimes,  from  the  axils  of  the  upper 
leaves;  they  are  bell-shaped  with  five  triangular, 
slightly  spreading  lobes.  In  color  they  are  brilliant 
violet  blue.  The  sharply  toothed  calyx  is  less  tnan 
half  the  length  of  the  tube  of  the  corolla;  it  is  quite 
rough  to  the  touch. 

Downy  Gentian  is  common  in  dry  fields  and  on 
prairies  from  Pa.  to  Ga.  and  west  to  Minn,  and  Mo., 
flowering  during  September  and  October. 

SOLITARY  GENTIAN  (Gentiana  Porphyrio)  is  a 
pretty  little  species  growing  in  moist  places  from 
southern  N.  J.  to  Fla.  The  simple,  slender  stem 
ranges  in  height  from  6  to  15  inches  and  bears  at  the 
summit  a  solitary,  erect,  bell-shaped  flower,  of  a 
light  ultramarine  blue  color;  the  five,  spreading  lobes 
are  notched  at  their  bases.  The  flower  is  very  large 
compared  to  the  stem  and  leaves  of  the  plant  it  grows 
upon;  the  blossom  measures  from  2  to  2  1-2  inches 
long,  which  is  about  the  length  of  linear  leaves  that 
are  oppositely  set  on  the  stem. 

AGUE-WEED  (Gentiana  quinquefolia)  is  a  smaller 
and  more  common  Gentian.  It  grows  on  moist  hill- 
sides from  Me.  to  111.  and  southwards.  It  is  an  an- 
nual with  a  ridged,  four-sided  stem  growing  8  to  22 
inches  high.  The  leaves  are  stiff,  pointed  and  slight- 
ly clasping  at  their  bases.  The  violet  blue  flowers 
are  clustered  at  the  end  of  the  stem  usually  in  fives, 
although  sometimes  we  may  find  from  two  to  seven 
in  a  group.  The  five  lobes  have  sharp  bristle-like 
points.  All  the  Gentians  have  bitter  juices  that  are 
used  medicinally. 


CLOSED  GENTIAN;  BOTTLE  GENTIAN. 
Gentiana  AndrewsiL 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         271 

CLOSED  GENTIAN;  BOTTLE  GENTIAN  (Genti- 
ana  Andrews! i)  is  the  most  abundant  of  all  Gentians. 
It  is  handsome  but  lacks  the  subtle  beauty  of  the 
Fringed  Gentian,  the  beauty  that  leads  one  to  tramp 
miles  in  quest  of  it,  and  that,  in  time,  is  sure  to  ex- 
terminate a  species.  Again,  the  present  species  is  a 
perennial  and  such  plants  have  a  tremendous  advant- 
age in  the  struggle  for  existence,  over  those  whose 
roots  last  but  a  year  and  then  die.  The  flowers  of 
the  Closed  Gentian  are  as  peculiar  in  their  way  as 
those  of  the  Fringed  are  in  theirs.  It  is  remarkable 
because  the  five  parts  of  the  corolla  never  spread, 
the  flower  remains  closed.  The  flowers  are  cross- 
fertilized  by  the  common  bumblebee.  He  knows  there 
is  a  supply  of  nectar  at  the  bottom  of  each  blossom 
and  he  has  the  wits  and  the  strength  to  get  at  it.  Slow- 
ly, but  surely,  he  is  able  to  force  the  closed  lobes 
apart  until  his  body  is  half  concealed  in  the  "bottle", 
and  he  is  able  to  reach  the  bottom.  As  he  leaves  the 
flower  he  is  certain  to  scrap  off  quantities  of  pollen 
on  his  head  and  almost  sure  to  leave  some  of  it  on 
the  receptive  stigma  of  the  next  flower  visited. 

The  stem  is  smooth  and  simple;  it  grows  from  1 
to  2  feet  high.  The  leaves  are  rather  large,  ovate- 
pointed  and  narrowed  into  very  short  clasping  stems. 
The  flowers  grow  in  terminal  clusters,  set  in  the 
axils  of  the  last  pairs  of  leaves.  They  are  deep, 
bright  blue  at  the  outer  ends  and  shade  to  nearly 
white  at  the  bases.  The  younger  flowers,  those  that 
have  not  matured  or  had  the  nectar  drained  from 
their  bases,  are  lighter  colored  than  the  old  flowers. 
The  distinction  between  the  two  is  very  evident  to 
the  bees  that  visit  them,  for  they  never  make  the 
mistake  of  entering  a  blossom  that  has  already  been 
drained.  Closed  gentian  grows  in  moist  places,  often 
along  brooks,  from  Me.  to  Manitoba  and  southwards. 


A.     INDIAN  HEMP. 

Apocynum  cannabinum. 

B.     SPREADING  DOGBANE. 

Apocynum  androsaemifolium. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         273 

DOGBANE    FAMILY    (Apocynaceae). 

A  small  family  composed  chiefly  of  poisonous  trop- 
ical plants,  usually  with  milky,  acrid  juices.  They 
have  perfect  and  regular,  five-parted  flowers  and  op- 
posite, smooth-edged  leaves. 

INDIAN  HEMP  (Apocynum  cannabinum)  is  a  rath- 
er unattractive  species  with  a  smooth  branching 
stem,  rising  from  vertical  roots  to  heights  of  1  to  4 
feet.  The  ovate-pointed  leaves  are  lusterless,  have 
very  short  stems  and  are  closely  crowded  on  the 
stalk  oppositely  to  one  another. 

The  small,  five-parted,  greenish-white  flowers  grow* 
in  terminal  clusters.  A  tiny  drop  of  nectar,  secret- 
ed at  the  bottom  of  each  small,  shallow  cup,  fur- 
nishes food  for  quantities  of  insects,  including  a 
great  many  crawling  ones  that  are  of  no  value  to  the 
plant.  The  name  of  Indian  Hemp  has  its  origin  be- 
cause Indians  formerly  used  the  tough  fibres  as 
a  substitute  for  hemp  in  their  basket  work.  We  find 
this  species  very  abundant  in  dry  fields  and  thickets 
throughout  our  range;  it  flowers  from  June  to  Aug- 
ust. 

SPREADING  DOGBANE  (Apocynum  androsaemi- 
folium)  is  a  much  more  attractive  species  than  its 
relative,  just  mentioned.  It  grows  from  1  to  4  feet 
high,  and  has  many  long,  spreading  branches.  The 
short-stemmed,  broadly  ovate-pointed,  pale  green 
leaves  grow  oppositely,  to  the  ends  of  the  branches, 
the  leaves  are  all  approximately  in  the  same  plane, 
that  is,  each  succeeding  pair  does  not  appear  at  right 
angles  to  the  pair  before  it,  as  is  usually  the  case. 
The  clusters  of  flowers  terminating  the  branches  are 
composed  of  pink,  bell-shaped  blossoms,  having  five, 
pointed,  recurved  lobes;  they  are  veined  with  deeper 
pink  and  are  fragrant.  It  is  adapted  to,  and  largely 
dependent  upon  butterflies  for  the  quickening  of  its 
seeds.  Common  on  borders  of  fields  or  thickets  with- 
in our  range. 

18 


BUTTERFLY-WEED. 
Ascleplas  tuberosa. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         275 
MILKWEED  FAMILY  (Asclepiadaceae). 

A  family  of  stout-stemmed  plants  having  milky 
juices  and  ,usually,  large  opposite  or  whorled  leaves. 
They  all  have  umbels  of  small  flowers  that  are  very 
peculiar  in  construction  and  highly  specialized  for 
cross-fertilization  by  particular  classes  of  insects. 
Each  blossom  has  five  tiny  structures  shaped  like 
wish-bones,  with  pollen  masses  on  each  end.  They 
are  so  placed  that  the  visiting  bee  or  butterfly  is  pret- 
ty sure  of  getting  one  or  more  of  its  legs  caught  in  the 
sharp  angle  at  the  apex  and  must,  in  order  to  get  free, 
tear  the  tiny  arrangement  from  its  support.  He  then 
flies  to  the  next  plant  with  this  dangling  from  his 
legs.  It  is  an  unique  method  of  forcing  insects  to 
work  for  it,  but  one  that  never  fails  as  far  as  the 
plant  is  concerned,  but  sometimes  proves  a  fatal  trap 
for  insects  lacking  the  strength  to  tear  away  the  tiny 
pollen  saddle  bags.  We  often  find  the  corpses  of 
several  such  insects  hanging  from  the  flower  cluster, 
with  their  legs  hopelessly  entangled. 

BUTTERFLY-WEED;  PLEURISY-ROOT;  OR- 
ANGE MILK-WEED  (Asclepias  tuberosa)  is  the  most 
brilliantly  colored  species  of  the  genus.  Even  those 
accustomed  to  the  sight  of  this  plant  cannot  sup- 
press the  feeling  of  admiration  that  stirs  them  as 
they  suddenly  behold  the  vivid,  orange  flashes  greet- 
ing them  as  they  cross  wraste  or  dry  fields. 

The  stem  of  butterfly-weed  is  usually  erect,  from 
1  to  3  feet  high;  it  is  rather  rough  and  has  but  little 
of  the  milky  juices  so  common  to  the  other  species. 
The  leaves  are  pointed-oblong,  very  short-stemmed  or 
seated  oppositely.  The  beautiful  orange  flowers  grow 
in  flat-topped  clusters  or  umbels,  at  the  summit  of 
the  plant.  It  is  found  from  Mass,  to  Minn,  and  south- 
wards, most  abundant  in  the  Southern  States.  Its 
roots  are  used  medicinally. 


COMMON  MILKWEED. 
Asclepias  syriaca. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         277 

COMMON  MILK-WEED  (Asclepias  syriaca)  is  the 
most  abundant  and  the  best  known  of  the  Milk- 
weeds. It  grows  everywhere  along  roadsides,  in  fields 
and  on  the  borders  of  woods.  The  rather  stout  stem 
rises  from  2  to  5  feet  high  and  has  numerous,  oppo- 
site, large,  oblong,  short-stemmed  leaves  of  a  yellow- 
green  color.  Both  the  leaves  and  the  stem  are  finely 
hairy  and  both  yield  quantities  of  a  thick,  sticky, 
bitter,  milky  fluid  if  they  are  broken  pr  bruised  any- 
where. It  has  been  found  that  the  outer  covering 
of  the  stem  is  extremely  delicate  and  that  the  tiny, 
claw-like  feet  of  insects  that  attempt  to  crawl  up 
the  stalk  will  cut  through  this  covering  sufficiently 
to  cause  the  feet  of  such  visitors  to  become  sticky 
with  the  milky  fluid;  this  not  only  discourages  the 
would-be  pilferers  of  the  flowers'  sweets  but  makes  it 
quite  impossible  for  them  to  reach  the  top  of  the  long 
stem.  Ants  frequently  become  so  gummed  up  with 
the  sticky  substance  that  it  causes  their  death. 

The  flowers  grow  in  rounded  clusters  often  in  a 
pendent  position,  from  the  axils  of  the  upper  leaves. 
They  are  very  fragrant  and  secrete  an  abundance  of 
nectar.  They  are  visited  by  many  varieties  of  bees 
and  butterflies,  by  one  of  the  latter  so  frequently  that 
it  is  known  as  the  Milkweed  Butterfly  (Anosia  plexip- 
pus.) 

In  the  Fall,  the  clusters  of  lilac-colored  flowers  have 
been  replaced  by  large,  rough-coated  seed-pods  that 
are  completely  filled  with  the  silkiest  of  flossy  sub- 
stance attached  to  the  numerous  black  seeds;  final- 
ly the  pod  bursts  and  liberates  the  seeds,  each 
floating  away  on  the  breeze,  sometimes  aviating  for 
several  miles  before  coming  to  earth.  This  provis- 
ion for  the  spreading  of  the  seeds  results  in  a  wide- 
ly distributed,  strong  race,  that  is  ever  on  the  in- 
crease. 


A.        POKE  MILKWEED. 

Asclepias  syriaca. 

B.        NARROW-LEAVED  MILKWEED. 

Asclepias  verticillata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         279 

POKE   MILK-WEED    (Asclepias  phytolaccoides)    is 

a  tall  species  growing  from  2  to  6  feet  in  height.  The 
flowers  composing  its  clusters  are  fewer  in  number 
than  those  of  the  common  milkweed  but  much  larger 
and  of  a  clear,  ivory-white  color.  The  flower  stems 
are  long  and  slender  so  that  the  entire  cluster  is  in 
a  nodding  position,  it  being  the  only  one  of  the  genus 
in  which  all  the  flowers  are  pendent.  The  leaves 
are  large  and  thin,  and  pointed  at  each  end.  The 
seed-pod  is  large  and  has  a  longer,  more  pointed  tip 
than  that  of  the  Common  Milkweed.  Poke  Milkweed 
is  found,  usually  in  dry  situations,  along  the  edges 
of  woods  or  along  roadsides,  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and 
southwards.  It  flowers  from  June  until  August. 

WHORLED  MILKWEED  (Asclepias  verticillata)  is 
a  very  slender  species,  common  in  dry  woods  and  on 
prairies  in  the  South;  found  north  to  Mass,  and  Sas- 
katchewan. The  stem  is  slender,  simple  and  rises 
from  1  to  3  feet  high.  The  narrow  linear  leaves  have 
their  margins  rolled  under;  they  grow  in  closely  clus- 
tered whorls  about  the  stem,  usually  quite  erect.  The 
numerous,  small,  greenish-white  flowers  grow  in  a 
round  clusters  or  umbels  at  the  summit  of  the  stem. 
It  is  a  ver.y  dainty  species,  one  not  apt  to  be  con- 
fused with  any  other  member  of  the  family.  Both 
the  stem  and  the  leaves  are  slightly  downy  and  have 
a  whitish  bloom.  Their  juices  are  milky  like  those  of 
the  others. 

PURPLE  MILKWEED  (Asclepias  purpurascens)  is 
a  common  species  whose  umbels  of  deep  magneta 
flowers  loom  up  conspicuously  in  dry  fields  and  thick- 
ets, from  June  until  August.  It  is  found  from  Me. 
to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

FOUR-LEAVED  MILKWEED  (A.  quadrifolia)  bears 
one  or  two  whorls  of  four  leaves  about  midway  of  the 
stem  and  several  pairs  near  the  summit.  It  Is  a 
delicate  species  with  few  clusters  of  small  magenta 
flowers. 


HEDGE  BINDWEED;  MORNING  GLORY. 
Convolvulus  sepium. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         281 

CONVOLVULUS    FAMILY    (Convolvulaceae). 

A  small  family  of  climbing  or  twining  herbs  having 
regular,  perfect,  usually  bell  or  funnel-shaped  flowers 
and  alternating  leaves. 

HEDGE  BINDWEED;  WILD  MORNING  GLORY 
(Convolvulus  sepium)  climbs  gracefully  over  walls, 
through  thickets  or  twines  its  stem  tightly  about 
those  of  other  plants  or  shrubs.  Its  embrace  is  some- 
times so  ardent  that  it  causes  suffocation  and  death 
to  the  plant  to  which  it  attaches  itself.  The  stem  is 
smooth,  rarely  slightly  hairy,  and  grows  to  lengths 
of  from  3  to  10  feet. 

The  leaves  are  triangular  or  slightly  arrow-shaped 
on  long  petioles.  The  large  funnel-shaped  blossoms 
grow  singly  on  slender  peduncles  from  the  axils  of 
the  leaves.  They  are  pink  with  white  stripes  and 
a  flaring  mouth;  the  calyx  consists  of  five  sepals  that 
are  concealed  by  two  large  bracts  at  the  base.  The 
flowers  remair  open  only  during  sunshine  and  occas- 
sionally  on  bright  moonlight  nights.  At  the  base  of 
the  corolla  are  five  tubes  leading  to  the  supply  of  nec- 
tar. Only  long  tongued  bees,  butterflies  or  moths  are 
able  to  reach  the  sweets,  to  which  they  are  guided 
by  the  white  stripes  on  the  inside  of  the  tube.  It 
is  very  commonly  found  in  moist  ground  along  road- 
sides or  the  borders  of  woods  or  thickets,  through- 
out our  range  and  also  in  Europe. 

COMMON  DODDER  (Cuscuta  Gronovii)  is  a  very 
common  little  parasitic  plant  found  in  moist  shady 
thickets  or  among  the  shrubs  and  plants  bordering 
ponds  or  streams.  It  germinates  Its  seeds  in  the 
ground  and  the  slender  stem  rises  until  it  comes  in 
contact  with  some  living  plant,  when  the  root  dies 
and  the  dodder  gets  its  nourishment  from  its 
host  by  means  of  numerous  little  suckers.  It  has 
no  leaves;  the  stem  is  orange  and  the  clusters  of 
minute  bell-shaped  flowers  are  white. 


A.     DOWNY  PHLOX. 

Phlox  pilosa. 
B.     Moss  PINK. 

Phlox  subulata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         283 

POLEMONIUM  FAMILY  (Polemoniaceae). 

A  small  family  of  herbs  having  either  opposite  or 
alternate  leaves  and  regular,  perfect  flowers,  the 
lobes  of  the  corolla  being  convolute  in  the  bud. 

DOWNY  PHLOX  (Phlox  pilosa).  Both  the  leaves 
and  stem  of  this  species  are  covered  with  fine,  downy 
hairs;  the  sharply  pointed  calyx  is  also  hairy  and 
sticky.  The  plant  stands  from  one  to  two  feet  in 
height.  The  narrow,  lance-shaped  leaves  are  rather 
closely  alternated  along  the  stem.  The  flowers  are 
in  a  flat-topped  clusters  at  the  summit.  The  five 
lobes  of  the  corolla  are  wide  spread  and  bluntly  point- 
ed. The  flowers  vary  in  color  from  a  magenta-pink  to 
white. 

All  varieties  of  phlox  are  hardy  and  make  excellent 
garden  plants,  a  purpose  for  which  they  are  exten- 
sively used.  The  present  species  ranges  from  Conn, 
to  Manitoba  and  southwards,  flowering  during  May 
and  June  in  dry  woods  or  on  prairies. 

BLUE  PHLOX  (Phlox  divaricata)  also  has  a  slight- 
ly downy,  hairy  stem,  with  broader  leaves  and  leafy, 
decumbent  shoots  from  the  base.  The  flowers  are 
in  loose  flat-topped  clusters.  The  five  lobes  of  the  cor- 
olla are  pale  lilac  and  usually  notched  at  the  ends. 
It  is  found  in  damp,  rocky  woods  from  N.  Y.  to  Minn, 
and  southwards. 

MOSS  PINK;  GROUND  PINK  (Phlox  subulata)  is 
a  low,  creeping  species  that  spreads  over  sandy  or 
rocky  ground,  forming  compact  masses  resembling 
moss.  The  stem  is  very  branchy  but  grows  only  a 
few  inches  high;  the  ends  of  the  branches  turn  up- 
wards and  terminate  in  clusters  of  flowers  varying 
from  crimson  pink  to  white.  The  five,  spreading 
lobes  of  the  tubular  corolla  are  wedge-shaped  and 
notched  at  the  tips.  The  stiff,  pointed,  evergreen 
leaves  are  closely  crowded  along  the  stem.  Ground 
Pink  is  found  from  western  N.  E.  to  Mich,  and  south- 
wards. 


A.  FORGET-ME-NOT. 
Myosotis  scorpioides. 

B.  WILD  COMFREY. 
Cynoglossum  virginianum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         285 
BORAGE   FAMILY    (Boraginaceae). 

A  family  of  herbs  with  rough  stems  and  leaves  and 
perfect  flowers,  regular  except  in  the  case  of  Bchium. 

FORGET-ME-NOT  (Myosotis  scorpioides)  (EURO- 
PEAN) Doubtless  this  pretty  little  plant  is  familiar 
by  name,  at  least,  to  all  my  readers.  Besides  its  own 
peculiar  charms  it  has  a  great  many  legendary  and 
poetical  associations  connected  with  it.  It  has  also 
been  a  favorite  flower  for  painters  the  world  over. 

Forget-me-not  is  a  common  wild  flower  in  Europe 
and  Asia,  but  is  not  indigenous  in  this  country.  It 
does,  however,  appear  as  an  escape  and  is  fairly  well 
established  in  Nova  Scotia,  New  England,  New  York 
and  southwards.  The  stem  is  rather  stout  but  weak, 
it  rise  about  a  foot  in  height,  and  is  smooth  but  the 
leaves  are  rough  and  hairy.  The  flowers  are  borne  in 
one-sided  curving  terminal  clusters.  The  five,  broad, 
rounded  petals  are  sky-blue  with  a  yellow  eye;  the 
undeveloped  buds  are  pink.  The  generic  name  was 
given  because  one  of  the  species  has  soft  leaves  shap- 
ed like  mouse  ears.  The  specific  name  refers  to  the 
curved  tendency  of  the  flower  stalk  containing  the 
buds,  it  being  curved  after  the  fashion  of  a  scor- 
pion's tail.  There  are  several  species  of  Myosotis, 
the  present  one  having  the  largest  and  most  beauti- 
ful flowers. 

WILD  COMFREY  (Cynoglossum  virginianum)  is  a 
common,  rough-stemmed  perennial  growing  in  decid- 
uous woods  from  Me.  to  Mich,  and  southwards.  The 
tubular  corolla  is  pale  blue;  it  is  &et  in  a  five-parted 
hairy  calyx.  The  basal  leaves  are  large  and  ovate; 
the  stem  ones  clasp  the  flower  stalk  with  somewhat 
heart-shaped  bases.  The  fruit  succeeding  the  flow- 
ers, is  composed  of  four  very  bristly  nutlets. 


A.     BLUE-WEED;  VIPER'S  BUGLOSS. 

Echium  vulgare. 

B.     SMALL  BUGLOSS. 

Lycopsis  arvensis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         287 

BLUE-WEED;  VIPER'S  BUGLOSS  (Echium  vul- 
gare)  (EUROPEAN).  Thi3  peculiar  plant  is  locally 
abundant  in  dry  fields  and  waste  places  in  the  East. 
It  is  a  waif  that  has  strayed  across  the  ocean,  and,  I 
must  confess,  it  is  one  that  farmers  wish  had  stayed 
in  its  native  countries.  It  is  often  regarded  as  a 
pest  and  is  a  difficult  one  to  get  rid  of.  Of  course  the 
botanist  welcomes  it,  as  he  does  any  new  species 
that  he  comes  upon;  it  has  unusual  flowers  both  as  to 
form  and  to  manner  of  growth.  We  can  safely  say 
that  Blue-Weed  will  never  be  popular  as  a  flower  for 
bouquets;  one  has  but  to  touch  it  to  find  the  reason, 
the  stem  is  thickly  set  with  light-colored  bristles  as 
sharp  as  needle  points  and  even  more  penetrating. 

The  stem  is  light  green,  spotted  with  purple;  it 
grows  erect  from  1  to  3  feet  high.  The  alternating 
leaves  are  rough,  hairy  and  clasping.  The  flowers 
grow  on  leafy  spike,  springing  from  the  stem  near  the 
top.  When  the  first  flowers  appear,  in  June,  they 
are  close  to  the  stalk  at  the  base  of  the  rolled-up, 
leafy  spike.  As  they  continue  to  bloom,  the  spike 
gradually  straightens  and  the  open  flowers  appear  far- 
ther and  farther  from  the  stem,  leaving  behind  them 
a  train  of  wrinkled  nutlets  in  the  axils  of  the  small 
leaves.  The  showy,  tubular  corolla  is  bright  blue, 
and  is  exceeded  in  length  by  the  long  stamens  and 
three-parted  style;  the  buds  are  pink. 

SMALL  BUGLOSS  (Lycopsis  arvensis)  (EURO- 
PEAN). This  is  a  very  rough,  bristly-stemmed  spec- 
ies, also  naturalized  from  Europe,  and  now  found  in 
waste  places  near  dwellings,  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and 
south  to  Va.  The  lanceolate  leaves  are  seated  on 
the  stem;  they  diminish  to  the  size  of  bracts  and 
pass  into  the  racemes  of  small,  tubular  violet-blue 
flowers  that  terminate  the  branching  stem.  The  curv- 
ed corolla  is  but  little  longer  than  its  enclosing,  hairy 
calyx. 


I 


BLUE  VERVAIN. 
Verbena  hastata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         289 

VERVAIN   FAMILY  (Verbenaceae-. 

Herbs  with  opposite  leaves  and  perfect  but  usually 
irregular  flowers,  the  tubular  corollas  spreading  into 
two  lips  or  four  or  five  lobes. 

BLUE  VERVAIN  (Verbena  hastata)  is  our  most 
common  example  of  the  genus.  It  is  a  tall,  slender, 
rank-growing  plant  reaching  heights  of  2  to  7  feet. 
The  leaves  are  dark  green,  short-stemmed,  lanceolate, 
sharply  toothed  and  grow  oppositely  on  the  stem. 

At  the  top  of  the  stem  are  numerous,  slender  flow- 
er spikes,  each  branching  from  the  stem  and  assum- 
ing a  vertical  position,  in  a  regular  order  suggestive 
of  candelabra.  These  slender  spikes  contain  many 
buds,  the  lower  of  which  open  first.  From  July  until 
the  end  of  August  we  will  find  rings  of  purple  flowers 
about  the  spikes,  gradually  drawing  nearer  the  ends 
as  the  flowering  season  advances,  and  leaving  behind 
a  long  trail  of  purplish  calyces.  The  tubular  corolla 
has  five  spreading  lobes,  a  slender  pistil  and 
two  pairs  of  stamens.  Blue  Vervain,  which  is 
found  throughout  our  range,  was  formerly,  and  is  now 
to  some  extent,  used  for  certain  home  medicinal  rem- 
edies. 

WHITE  VERVAIN  (Verbena  urticaefolia)  is  a  sim- 
ilar but  smaller  and  even  more  slender  species  found 
in  thickets  and  waste  ground.  The  flower  spikes  are 
very  slender  and  the  flowers  much  smaller  than  those 
of  the  last  species,  and  they  are  white  in  color.  The 
stem  grows  from  2  to  4  feet  high,  is  erect,  coarse, 
four-sided  and  grooved. 

Verbena  canadensis  is  quite  different;  it  has  an 
erect  bristly-hairy  stem  from  6  to  18  inches  tall  and 
opposite,  deeply  lobed  and  toothed  leaves.  The  lilac 
flowers,  nearly  an  inch  broad,  are  in  short  terminal 
clusters ;  the  tubular  corolla  has  five  spreading,  notch- 
ed lobes.  It  grows  in  open  woods  and  on  prairies 
from  Ind.  to  Dakota  and  southwards. 

19 


A.  SELF-HEAL. 
Prunella  vulgaris. 

B.  SKULLCAP. 
Scutellaria  intergrifolia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         291 

MINT  FAMILY   (Labiatae). 

A  very  large  family  of  herbs  having,  usually, 
square  stems,  strong  scented  foliage  and  small  tubu- 
lar flowers  conspicuously  situated  in  spikes  or  from 
the  leaf  axils.  The  flowers  usually  have  two-lobed  or 
entire  upper  lips  and  three-lobed  lower.  They  all 
bear  honey  and  are  nearly  all  dependent  upon  mem- 
bers of  the  bee  family  for  cross-fertilization. 

SELF-HEAL;  HEAL-ALL  (Prunella  vulgaris)  is 
one  of  the  commonest  and  most  widely  distributed 
members  of  the  mint  family.  Along  roadsides,  in 
fields  and  on  the  borders  of  woods,  everywhere 
throughout  the  country,  we  will  find  this  familiar 
flower.  The  stem  grows  from  6  to  15  inches  high  and 
is  topped  with  a  cylindrical  flower  head,  composed  of 
many,  two-lipped,  tubular,  purple  florets.  But  few  of 
these  bloom  at  a  time  commencing  at  the  bottom,  and 
the  flowering  season  extends  from  June  to  Septem- 
ber. The  leaves  are  sparingly  toothed  and  seated 
oppositely  on  long  stems.  Usually  several  leaflets 
appear  from  their  axils  and  sometimes  smaller  flower 
heads  from  the  axils  of  the  upper  ones.  It  is  fre- 
quented most  often  by  bees,  in  fact  it  is  often  known 
as  the  "bee  flower." 

SKULLCAP  (Scutellaria  intergrifolia)  is  one  of  the 
handsomest  of  the  Skullcaps,  the  tubular,  two-lipped 
flowers  in  the  loose  terminal  spike,  each  measuring 
about  one  inch  in  length.  The  downy  stem  rises 
from  6  to  24  inches  high  and  is  set  oppositely  with 
toothless,  lance-shaped,  round-ended  leaves.  It  is 
found  in  dry  ground  from  Mass,  to  Fla.  and  along  the 
Gulf. 

BUGLEWEED  (Lycopus  virginicus)  is  similar  in 
general  form  to  the  last;  the  leaves  are  coarsely 
toothed.  The  tiny,  white,  tubular  flowers  are  in  small 
clusters  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves.  A  slight,  fancied, 
bugle-shape  to  the  corolla  form  the  basis  for  its  com- 
mon name. 


A.     GROUND  IVY;  GILL-OVER-THE-GROUND. 
Nepeta  hederacea. 

B.     CATNIP. 
Nepeta  Cat  aria. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         293 

GROUND    IVY;    GILL-OVER-THE-GROUND    (Nep- 

eta  hederacea)  (EUROPEAN)  is  a  beautiful  little 
trailing  mint  that  grows  very  profusely  about  country 
houses,  where  it  has  escaped  at  some  time  from  culti- 
vation. It  is  very  inconspicuous  and  lowly  in  its 
habits,  so  that  it  is  very  apt  to  escape  notice  even 
when  it  is  in  flower.  Its  stems  are  weak  and  pro- 
cumbent; it  frequently  strikes  root  from  the  stem  at 
the  angles  of  the  leaves  so  that  it  may  trail  over  the 
ground  for  a  long  distance  from  the  parent  root.  The 
upright  flowering  stems,  given  off  from  this  creep- 
ing one,  rarely  exceed  eight  inches  in  height. 

The  leaves  rise  from  the  stem  in  pairs;  they  are 
round,  with  a  heart-shaped  bases,  the  edge  cut  into 
rounded  lobes,  and  their  whole  surface  is  downy  and 
veiny.  The  pretty  little  purple  flowers  grow  in  small 
clusters  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves.  The  upper 
lip  is  erect  and  slightly  notched;  the  lower  one  has 
three  spreading  lobes  and  is  spotted  with  dark  pur- 
ple. 

Depending  upon  the  amount  of  light  and  moisture 
received,  the  stems  and  leaves  vary  greatly  in  color 
from  green  to  a  purplish-red.  Ground  ivy  is  found 
in  blossom  from  May  to  July  throughout  the  eastern 
half  of  our  country. 

CATNIP  (Nepeta  Cataria)  (EUROPEAN)  is  a  very 
common  mint,  introduced  from  Europe,  the  aromatic 
foliage  of  which  has  a  very  peculiar  attraction  for 
all  members  of  the  feline  race.  It  apparently  has  an 
intoxicating  effect  upon  them;  after  eating  the  leaves 
they  will  roll  about  on  them  for  a  long  time.  It  also 
formerly  was  used  for  making  Catnip  tea,  a  one-time 
remedy  for  most  of  the  ills  of  childhood.  The  plant 
has  a  stout,  square  hollow  stem  from  2  to  3  feet  tall 
ard  is  downy,  as  are  the  sage  green,  toothed  leaves. 
The  lilac-white  flowers  are  clustered  on  peduncles 
from  the  axils  of  the  leaves.  Catnip  is  common 
throughout  our  range. 


A.       MOTHERWORT. 

Leonurus  cardiaca. 

B.     HEDGE   NETTLE. 

Stachys  palustris. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         295 

MOTHERWORT  (Leonurus  Cardiaca)  (EURO- 
PEAN) is  a  simple,  erect-stemmed  mint  growing  from 
2  to  4  feet  high.  It  has  a  very  decorative  effect,  the* 
leaves  being  large  at  the  base  of  the  stem  and  rapidly 
diminishing  as  they  approach  the  top;  the  lower  ones 
are  quite  long-stemmed  and  all  are  palmately  slashed. 
The  flowers  grow  in  round  clusters  surounding  the 
stem  at  the  axils  of  the  leaves. 

The  numerous  flowers  composing  these  clusters 
have  tiny,  two-lipped,  white,  pink  or  purple  corollas 
and  minute  stamens.  Both  the  stem  and  the  leaves 
have  a 'woolly  texture  and  the  former  are  strongly 
veined.  Motherwort  is  commonly  found  about 
old  country  dwellings  and  along  roadsides.  We  find  it 
in  bloom  from  June  until  August.  It  is  a  much  more 
leafy  species  than  most  of  the  mints;  the  pairs  of 
leaves  are  closely  crowded  together  and  extend  in 
all  directions  from  the  stem. 

WILD  MINT  (Mentha  arvensis  canadensis),  a  com- 
mon species,  is  one  of  our  few  native  mints.  It  has 
a  simple  stem  from  1  to  2  feet  high  and  toothed, 
petioled  lance-shaped  leaves.  The  tiny  white  or  li- 
lac-white flowers  are  clustered  around  the  stem  in 
the  axils  of  the  opposite  leaves.  Both  the  stem  and 
the  leaves  are  more  or  less  hairy  and  have  an  aro- 
matic odor  resembling  pennyroyal.  Wild  Mint  is 
common  throughout  the  United  States  and  southern 
Canada. 

HEDGE  NETTLE;  WOUND-WORT  (Stachyspalus- 
tris)  is  a  tall  mint  (1  to  3  feet)  with  a  downy-bristly 
stem  and  purple,  tubular,  two-lipped  flowers  in  a  ter- 
minal spike  and  from  the  axils  of  the  upper  leaves; 
lower  lip  streaked  and  spotted.  Common  in  moist 
ground  from  N.  S.  to  Manitoba  and  southwards. 

PEPPERMINT  (Mentha  piperita)  (EUROPEAN) 
has  ovate-pointed,  finely  toothed  leaves,  usually  with 
pairs  of  leaflets  from  the  axils  and  little  purplish 
flowers  in  small  terminal  spikes. 


OSWEGO  TEA;  BEE  BALM. 
Monarda  didyma. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         297 

OSWEGO  TEA;    BEE  BALM   (Monarda  didyma)  is 

one  of  our  most  brilliantly  colored  wild  flowers  and 
shares  with  the  Cardinal  Flower  the  honor  of  being 
the  most  intensely  scarlet  colored.  It  grows  along 
the  shady  borders  of  woodland  streams  or  pools  where 
its  vivid  coloring  is  in  strong  contrast  with  the  deep 
greens  of  the  surrounding  vegetation.  The  stem 
is  hairy  and  rather  rough;  it  attains  heights  of  two 
feet  or  more.  The  short-stemmed,  broad-lance- 
shaped  leaves  are  light  green,  sharply  toothed  and 
rather  thin,  the  stem  and  the  smaller  leaves,  just  be- 
low the  flower  heads,  are  often  tinged  with  ruddy. 

The  flowers  grow  in  rounded  terminal  heads,  com- 
posed of  numerous,  long  tubular,  scarlet  florets.  The 
upper  lip  is  long,  arched,  pointed  and  often  notched 
at  the  tip;  the  lower  lip  is  three-parted,  the  middle 
one  being  longer  than  the  side  ones. 

Nectar,  seated  at  the  base  of  the  long  tube,  can 
only  be  reached  by  long-tongued  insects.  Best  adapt- 
ed to  it  are  bumble  bees  and  certain  of  the  butter- 
flies. The  Ruby-throated  Hummingbird,  too,  attract- 
ed to  this,  his  favorite  color,  often  partakes  of  the 
sweets.  Two  Stamens  with  prominent  anthers  and 
a  pistil  with  a  two-parted  stigma,  are  so  situated  in 
the  throat  of  the  flower  that  it  is  impossible  for  either 
bee  or  butterfly  to  reach  the  honey-cup  without  pol- 
lenizing  the  stigma,  usually  with  some  brought  from 
another  blossom.  From  July  until  September  this 
beautiful  species  blooms  in  suitable  localities  from 
Quebec  to  Manitoba  and  southwards  to  Ga,  and  Mo. 

WILD  BERGAMOT  (Monarda  fistulosa)  is  a  quite 
similar  species  with  a  smooth  stem  and  paler  flowers, 
either  pink  or  magenta-pink  in  color.  The  upper 
leaves  are  stained  with  the  shade  of  purple  or  lilac 
that  characterizes  the  flower  bracts.  We  find  this 
species  in  dry  ground  in  the  same  range. 


A.     BITTERSWEET. 

Solanum  Dulcamara. 

B.     BLACK  HENBANE. 

Hyoscyamus  niger. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         299 

NIGHTSHADE  FAMILY  (Solanaceae). 

A  small  family  of  herbs,  some  of  them  very  valu- 
able, having  colorless  juices,  alternating  leaves  and 
regular  five-parted  flowers,  usually  with  five  stamens 
and  a  short  pistil. 

BITTERSWEET;  NIGHTSHADE  (Solanum  Dulca- 
mara) (EUROPEAN),  although  an  immigrant,  is 
quite  common  in  the  eastern  half  of  our  country.  It 
chooses  for  its  habitat,  moist  thickets  or  the  edges 
of  ponds  where  there  are  plenty  of  shrubs  to  help  sup- 
port it,  for  this  species  has  weak  stems  with  climbing 
tendencies. 

It  is  a  species  that  often  attracts  the  attention  of 
the  casual  passerby  because  of  the  beauty  and  quaint 
forms  of  its  flowers  and  leaves.  It  grows  from  2  to  8 
feet  tall  and  throws  out  numerous,  long  branches  that 
climb  and  sprawl  over  the  surrounding  vegetation. 
The  dark  green  leaves  are  variable  in  form;  some  are 
lobed,  others  have  small  lateral  leaflets  and  still 
others  have  another  pair  of  still  smaller  leaflets  on 
the  leaf  stem.  The  flowers  hang  in  loose  clusters  on 
long  peduncles  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves;  they 
have  five,  reflexed,  purple  petals  and  a  yellow,  coni- 
cal center  formed  by  the  stamens.  The  berries  that 
succeed  the  flowers  are  first  green,  then  turn  yellow 
and  ultimately  a  deep  ruby-red.  This  species  blooms 
from  June  until  September  and,  like  most  plants  with 
a  long  period  of  bloom,  we  may  often  find  flowers 
and  berries  in  all  stages  of  color  at  the  same  time. 

BLACK  NIGHTSHADE  (Solanum  nigrum)  is  a  na- 
tive species  with  a  smooth,  erect,  branching  stem  1 
to  2  feet  high.  The  long-stemmed  ovate  leaves  have 
a  wavy-lobed  edge.  The  five-parted  white  flowers 
grow  in  few-flowered  clusters  from  the  leaf  axils, 
the  round  berries  are  black  when  fully  ripe,  and  are 
quite  poisonous.  This  species  is  found  throughout 
our  range,  frequenting  waste  ground. 


PURPLE  THORN  APPLE, 
Datura  tatyla. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         301 

PURPLE  THORN  APPLE  (Datura  Tatula)  is  a 
large,  ill-scented,  rank-growing  weed  with  a  stout, 
smooth  stem  from  1  to  5  feet  high.  The  long-stem- 
med leaves  have  very  irregular,  coarsely  toothed  out- 
lines. The  lavender-colored,  trumpet-shaped  flowers 
are  about  four  inches  long.  The  flaring  corolla  has 
five  broad  sharply  pointed  lobes  and  is  seated  in  a 
light  green,  five-parted  calyx  about  half  its  length. 
Usually  the  color  of  the  corolla  is  more  intense  on 
the  lobes  and  often  shades  to  white  towards  the  base 
of  the  tube.  After  flowering,  a  large  green,  fruit-cap- 
sule about  two  inches  long  appears;  it  is  ovoid  in 
shape  and  armed  with  stout  prickles.  The  entire 
plant  has  poisonous  juices,  because  of  which  and  the 
unpleasant  odor,  farmers  usually  try  to  suppress  it 
on  their  premises.  It  grows  in  waste  ground, 
especially  about  barnyards,  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and 
southwards. 

THORN  APPLE;  JIMSON  WEED  (Datura  Stra- 
monium) also  comes  from  across  the  water;  it  is 
very  similar  to  the  preceding,  grows  in  the  same 
places  and  in  the  same  range.  The  flowers  are  white 
and  the  leaves  are  lighter  green;  the  stem  is  also 
somewhat  stouter. 

All  the  preceding  members  of  the  Nightshade  Fam- 
ily have  more  or  less  poisonous  qualities,  but  there 
are  others  that  are  of  inestimable  value  to  mankind. 
The  Potato,  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  widely  cul- 
tivated vegetables  throughout  the  civilized  world,  be- 
longs to  the  genus  Solanum.  It  is  specifically  term- 
ed Sclanum  tuberosum.  The  common  Tomato  be- 
longs to  another  genus  of  this  same  family  (Lycoper- 
sicon).  The  Egg  Plant  is  Solanum  Melongena.  Not 
only  do  these  valuable  food  products  come  from  mem- 
bers of  this  family,  but  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
widely  cultivated  of  our  garden  flowers  does  too, — the 
Petunia. 


A.     COMMON  MULLEIN;  FLANNEL  PLANT. 
Verbascum  Thapsus. 
B.     MOTH  MULLEIN. 
Verbascum  Blattaria. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         303 

FIGWORT  FAMILY   (Scrophulariaceae). 

A  large  family  of  herbs  with  perfect  but  irregular 
flowers,  usually  with  two  sets  of  stamens  of  different 
lengths.  They  all  have  bitter  juices  and  some  of 
them  are  narcotic-poisonous. 

COMMON  or  GREAT  MULLEIN  (Verbascum  Thap- 
sus)  (EUROPEAN).  This  well  known  plant  is  one 
of  the  most  common  sights  along  roadsides  and  in 
dry  fields.  It  is  very  conspicuous,  the  more  so  from 
the  fact  that  it  commonly  grows  where  other  plant 
life  is  of  small  stature.  Its  long  stalk  rises  from  2  to 
7  feet  above  ground;  the  plant  may  well  be  compared 
to  its  neighbors  as  a  modern  skyscraper  surrounded 
by  cottages. 

Mullein  leaves  are  very  soft,  with  fine  white  downy 
hairs;  they  have  given  to  the  plant  a  name  very  of- 
ten applied, — -"Flannel  Plant."  The  basal  tuft  of 
leaves  first  appears:  they  are  large,  ovate  and  point- 
ed. The  ones  on  the  tall  stalk  are  smaller  and 
diminish  in  size  to  bracts  as  they  reach  the  bottom 
of  the  long  flower  spike.  Prom  June  until  Septem- 
ber, these  flowers  open  a  few  at  a  time  and  last  but  a 
day.  The  light  yellow  corolla  has  five  uneven,  con- 
caved lobes  and  five  protruding  stamens;  three  of  the 
stamens  are  fuzzy  and  tipped  with  orange  anthers, 
the  others  are  smooth. 

Mullein  is  always  associated  in  my  mind  with  King- 
birds because  the  tall  spires  are  commonly  used  as 
lookout  perches.  It  is  very  common  throughout  our 
range. 

MOTH  MULLEIN  (Verbascum  Blattaria)  (EURO- 
PEAN) has  a  tall,  very  slender  stalk  at  the  summit 
!  of  which  is  a  loose  raceme.  The  flowers  open  two  or 
three  at  a  time;  they  are  large,  have  five  petals,  very 
prominent  stamens  and  orange  anthers.  The  upper 
i  leaves  are  lance-shaped,  the  lower  ones  have  the 
margins  deeply  cut,  toothed,  and  notched.  It  is  com- 
mon from  Me.  to  Ontario  and  southwards. 


MM, 


A.     BLUE   TOADFLAX. 

Linaria  canadensis. 

B.     TOADFLAX;  BUTTER-AND-EGGS. 

Linaria  vulgaris. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         305 

BLUE  TOADFLAX  (Linaria  canadensis).  This  is 
a  very  slender  and  dainty  species  related  to  the  very 
common  introduced  "Butter-and-Eggs.  The  stem  at- 
tains heights  of  from  5  to  30  inches,  but  is  so  slend- 
er and  weak  that  it  is  often  supported  by  the  sur- 
rounding plants.  The  small  linear  leaves  alternate 
along  the  stem  and  continue  in  a  diminishing  size  to 
the  ends  of  the  branches,  where  they  act  as  bracts  for 
the  loose  raceme  of  flowers. 

The  little  tubular  flowers  are  violet-blue  in  color; 
the  corolla  is  two-lipped,  the  upper  one  having  two 
Ibbes  and  the  lower  one  three;  the  latter  is  pouch- 
shaped  and  extends  backwards  into  a  very  slender 
spur.  Blue  Toadflax  is  commonly  found  in  dry  sandy 
fields  throughout  the  United  States  and  southern 
Canada. 

TOAD-FLAX;  BUTTER-AND-EGGS  (Linaria  vul- 
gar is),  although  an  immigrant,  takes  so  kindly  to  our 
land  that  it  has  extended  its  range  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific  and  southern  Canada  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  It  is  a  very  attractive  plant  and  interesting 
in  many  ways.  The  stem  is  simple  and  from  6  to  30 
inches,  high.  The  narrow  alternating  leaves  are  gray- 
ish green,  covered  with  a  whitish  bloom.  As  the 
plants  grow  often  in  dense  colonies  the  effect  on  the 
landscape  is  that  of  a  grayish  bank,  studded  with 
gold  and  orange  jewels. 

The  tubular,  yellow  flower  has  a  two-lipped  corolla, 
the  upper  one  being  of  two  lobes  and  the  lower  one 
three,  the  center  one  of  which  extends  into  a  large 
sac-like  spur  and  has  a  protruding,  pouting,  orange 
palate  that  closes  the  throat  of  the  blossom.  This  ar- 
rangement is  designed  for  the  bumblebee,  whose 
weight  on  the  lower  lip  opens  the  flower  so  he  can 
get  at  the  nectar,  while  it  is  tightly  closed  to  pilfer- 
ing ants.  We  find  Butter-and-Eggs  in  bloom  during 
July  to  October  in  waste  land,  along  roads  and  in 
fields  or  pastures. 

20 


A.      TURTLE-HEAD. 
Chelone  glabra. 
B.     BEARD-TONGUED. 
Pentesmon  hirsutus. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         307 

TURTLE-HEAD  (Chelone  glabra.) 

Many  plants  derive  their  names  from  the  fancied 
resemblance  of  their  flowers  to  some  well  known 
objects.  Often  these  fancies  are  so  far  fetched  that 
no  one  but  the  authors  are  able  to  discover  the  reason 
for  the  name.  In  this  instance  the  profile  view  of  the 
blossom  really  does  give  a  suggestion  of  the  head  of 
a  turtle;  its  generic  name,  too,  is  derived  from  the 
Greek,  meaning  a  tortoise.  Other  names  applied  less 
often  to  this  species  are  "Snake-head,"  "Cod-head" 
and  "Shell  Flower."  It  is  a  moisture  loving  plant  and 
is  usually  found  in  wet  locations  in  swamps  or  on  the 
banks  of  streams  or  ponds. 

The  stem  is  stout,  smooth  and  erect,  from  1  to  3 
feet  tall.  The  leaves  grow  oppositely  and  are  lance- 
shaped,  stemmed,  pointed  and  toothed.  The  flowers 
are  clustered  in  a  short  spike  at  the  summit  of  the 
stem;  the  corolla  is  tubular,  about  an  inch  in  length 
and  is  white,  tinged  with  pink.  The  upper  lip  is  broad, 
arched,  creased  and  notched  in  the  middle;  the  lower 
lip  is  three  lobed  and  woolly-bearded  in  the  throat; 
the  corollas  are  set  in  five-parted  calyces  which,  in 
turn,  are  subtended  by  leafy  bracts.  Turtlehead 
blooms  from  July  until  September  and  ranges  from 
Newfoundland  to  Manitoba  and  southwards. 

PENTESMON;  BEARD-TONGUE  (Pentesmon  hir- 
sutus)  has  a  straight,  slender  woolly  stem  that  grows 
from  1  to  3  feet  high.  The  leaves  are  light  %reen, 
lance-shaped,  rough-edged  or  minutely  toothed,  the 
upper  ones  seated  oppositely  on  the  stem  and  the 
lower  ones  with  short  petioles.  The  small  magenta- 
white  flowers  are  in  panicled  racemes.  The  trumpet- 
shaped  corolla  has  two  lobes  to  the  upper  lip  and 
three  on  the  lower,  the  throat  nearly  closed  by  a  « 
hairy  palate  on  the  lower  lip.  Me.  to  Wisconsin  and 
southwards. 


MONKEY  FLOWER. 
Mimulus  ringens. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         309 

MONKEY  FLOWER  (Mimulus  ringens)  is  a  very 
appropriate  name  for  this  strange  looking  flower. 
Viewed  from  in  front,  the  plaits  and  twists  of  the 
corolla  are  such  that  one  can  easily  imagine  that  a 
little  blue  ape  is  grinning  at  him  from  among  the 
leaves.  The  plant  is  a  perennial  with  a  smooth, 
square,  hollow  stem  growing  from  one  to  three  feet 
in  height  and  branching  considerably.  The  leaves, 
seated  oppositely  on  the  stem,  are  lance-shaped, 
pointed  and  slightly  toothed.  The  flowers  are  few  in 
number  and  are  on  long,  slender  pedicels  from  the 
axils  of  the  upper  leaves.  They  open  one  or  two  at  a 
time.  The  pale  purple  flowers  have  two  large  lips, 
the  upper  divided  into  two  lobes  and  the  lower  one 
into  three,  all  broad  and  wavy.  Four  white  stamens 
and  a  pistil  nearly  fill  the  throat,  at  the  mouth  of 
which  are  two  bright  orange-yellow  spots. 

A  small  store  of  nectar  is  secreted  in  the  base  of 
the  flower  tube.  The  double,  yellow  palate  serves  to 
close  the  entrance  to  the  tube  so  that  small  useless 
insects  may  not  be  allowed  to  partake  of  the  sweets 
within.  When,  however,  the  burly  bumblebee  alights 
upon  the  lower  lip,  his  weight  causes  it  to  droop  and 
allow  easy  access  to  its  meager  supply  of  nectar.  He 
does  not  get  it,  though,  without  paying  the  price  the 
flower  asks, — that  he  bear  away  some  of  its  precious 
pollen  on  his  head  and  shoulders,  to  deposit  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  next  blossom  visited.  Butterflies  also 
sometimes  visit  the  flowers,  but  without  any  resulting 
benefit  to  the  latter,  for  their  long,  slender  tongues 
readily  pass  down  the  throat  of  the  flower  and  drain 
the  honey-cup  without  their  faces  coming  in  contact 
with  the  anthers.  Each  flower  is  more  or  less  adapt- 
ed to  certain  classes  of  insects  and  endeavors,  but  not 
always  with  success,  to  erect  barriers  to  keep  away 
c  ther  kinds.  Monkey  flower  is  found  in  wet  places 
from  N.  B.  to  Manitoba  and  southwards. 


A.     AM.  BROOKLIME. 

Veronica  americana. 

B.     COMMON  SPEEDWELL, 

Veronica  officinalis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         311 

AMERICAN  BROOKLIME  (Veronica  americana), 
the  prettiest  of  the  speedwells  or  veronicas,  is  a  very 
frail  plant;  the  stem  is  fragile  and  the  petals  fall  off 
at  the  slightest  provocation.  At  a  short  distance  the 
little  beds  of  blue  flowers,  lining  the  sides  of  the 
brook,  might  be  mistaken  for  Forget-me-nots,  but  in- 
spection quickly  reveals  the  differences.  Except  when 
it  does  grow  in  colonies  or  beds,  it  is  quite  apt  to  be 
overlooked  entirely  for  it  is  quite  inconspicuous  in 
the  rank  and  luxurant  vegetation  that  fringes  the 
streams  it  inhabits. 

The  stem  is  stout,  smooth,  hollow  and  quite  weak; 
the  lower  part  spreads  over  the  ground  and  frequent- 
ly takes  root  at  the  angles  of  the  lower  leaves.  At 
intervals,  branches  rise  to  height  of  6  to  15  inches, 
bearing  from  the  axils  of  the  upper  leaves,  small  four- 
parted  blue  flowers  in  loose  racemes.  The  light 
blue  petals  have  purple  stripes  and  a  white 
spot  at  the  base.  The  two  spreading  stamens  and  the 
pistil  are  purple.  The  light  green,  oblong-lanceolate 
leaves  are  toothed  and  have  short,  flat  stems. 

Brooklime  has  a  long  season  of  bloom,  being  found 
in  flower  from  May  until  September.  It  is  common  in 
moist  ditches  and  along  brooks  or  in  swamps,  from 
Newfoundland  to  Alaska  and  south  to  Va.  and  Mo. 

COMMON  SPEEDWELL  (Veronica  officinalis)  is  a 

popular  little  plant  as  common  in  dryfields  and  open 
woods  as  its  preceding  relative  is  in  moist  places. 
The  prostrate  woolly  stem  is  erect  at  the  end  and  ter- 
minates in  a  raceme  of  pale  lavender,  four  petalled 
flowers,  the  lower  petal  of  which  is  conspicuously 
smaller  than  the  other  three,  a  common  trait  of  this 
genus.  Speedwell  is  quite  common  through  the  Unit- 
ed States  and  southern  Canada.  These  two  veronicas 
are  the  prettiest  and  the  most  common  of  several 
found  in  our  range. 


A.      PURPLE  GERARDIA. 

Gerardia  purpurea. 

B.     SMOOTH   FALSE   FOXGLOVE. 

Gerardia  virginica. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         313 

PURPLE  GERARDIA  (Gerardia  purpurea)  is  a 
pretty  little  species  that  decorates  low,  moist,  sandy 
fields  and  meadows  with  its  beautiful  purple-pink 
blossoms.  The  slender  stem  is  quite  branchy  and 
averages  about  a  foot  in  height,  though  it  occasion- 
ally attains  heights  of  two  feet.  The  leaves,  closely 
crowded  along  the  stem,  are  linear,  pointed  and 
rough-margined.  From  three  to  eight  flowers,  open- 
ing one  at  a  time,  grow  along  the  ends  of  each  branch. 
The  corolla  is  broad  and  about  1  in.  long,  bright  pur- 
plish pink,  the  mouth  of  the  funnel  spreading  into 
five  rounded  lobes,  spotted  or  downy  within. 

If  we  watch  these  flowers  for  a  few  moments,  we 
will  be  sure  to  see  a  big,  burly,  bumblebee  buzzing 
along  inspecting  each  blossom,  not  with  an  eye  to 
their  beauty  but  thinking  only  of  the  sweets  they  con- 
tain for  him.  As  he  reaches  the  bottom  of  the  cor- 
olla, the  flower  fits  over  his  head  like  a  little  tobog- 
gan cap.  All  the  Gerardias  and  Foxgloves  are  quite 
parasitic,  attaching  their  roots  to  those  of  other 
plants  and  getting  part  of  their  sustenance  from  them. 
One  would  little  suspect  such  pretty  plants  of  such 
pilfering.  This  species  is  found  chiefly  along  the 
coasts  of  the  Atlantic,  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico.  It  blooms  from  August  to  October. 

A  more  slender,  smaller  flowered  species  (G.  ten- 
uifolia)  is  found  throughout  the  eastern  half  of  the 
United  States. 

SMOOTH  FALSE  FOXGLOVE  (Gerardia  virgini- 
ca)  has  a  smooth,  branching  stem  from  2  to  6  feet 
high.  The  leaves  are  lance-shaped,  wavy-edged  and 
usually  toothed.  The  large,  lemon-yellow  flowers 
measure  nearly  two  inches  long  by  an  inch  broad. 
The  plant  grows  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards 
and  blooms  during  August  and  Sept.  The  Fern- 
leaved.  Foxglove,  (G.  pedicularia)  is  smaller  and  has 
pinnatifid  leaves.  It  is  found  in  the  same  range. 


PAINTED   Cup. 
Castilleja  coccinea. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         315 

SCARLET  PAINTED-CUP;  INDIAN  PAINT  BRUSH 

(Castilleja  cocci nea).  This  singular  species  is  a  par- 
asite, that  is  it  fastens  its  roots  upon  those  of  other 
plants  and  takes  their  nourishment  from  them.  Most 
plants  of  this  nature  have  pale  flowers  and  foliage,  as 
instanced  by  Indian  Pipe  and  Beech  Drops,  but  the 
Gerardias,  Foxgloves  and  the  present  species  rank  as 
among  our  most  handsomely  colored  plants.  This 
simply  goes  to  show  that  plants  may  be  deceitful,  and 
that  we  can  form  no  more  idea  of  what  goes  on  be- 
neath the  surface  from  their  attractive  appearance 
than  we  can  judge  a  man's  nature  by  his  face. 

The  slender,  hollow,  reddish,  angular  and  hairy 
stem  grows  from  a  tuft  of  smooth-edged,  oblong 
leaves.  The  stem  leaves  are  rather  small  and,  the  up- 
per ones  especially,  have  the  ends  three-lobed;  those 
near  and  surrounding  the  flowers  have  their  ends 
scarlet,  as  though  they  had  been  dipped  in  a  pot  of 
red  paint.  The  flowers'  corolla  is  almost  concealed 
in  the  two-lobed  cylindrical  calyx,  the  end  of  which 
is  usually  a  brilliant  scarlet.  The  corolla  is  irregular, 
greenish  yellow,  with  a  narrow  upper  lip  and  a  three- 
lobed  lower  one.  They  have,  set  in  the  upper  lip,  four 
unequal  stamens  and  a  long  pistil. 

There  is  a  great  difference  in  the  coloration  of 
Painted  Cup,  apparently  depending  upon  the  nature  of 
the  soil  and  the  light  received.  While  most  speci- 
mens are  marked  with  the  brightest  of  scarlet,  we 
sometimes  find  it  with  yellow  or  even  light  green. 
The  Scarlet  Painted-cup  is  found  in  low  sandy  ground 
from  Mass,  to  Manitoba  and  southwards.  A  paler 
species,  C.  pallida,  is  found  in  moist,  rocky  situations 
on  hill  or  mountain  sides  from  northern  United  States 
nortlrwards.  The  stem  leaves  are  usually  entire, 
without  lobes  and  the  upper  part  of  the  stem  is  quite 
woolly. 


WOOD  BETONY;  LOUSEWORT. 
Pedicularis  canadensis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         317 

WOOD  BETONY;    LOUSEWORT  (Pedicularis  can- 

adensis)  is  a  peculiar  plant  that  we  find  in  dry  woods 
and  thickets  and  often  along  roadsides.  It  almost  al- 
ways has  an  unkempt  appearance  due  chiefly  to  the 
fact  that  the  florets  grow  from  the  flowering  head 
with  little  regard  to  symmetry,  and  the  leaves  are 
rolled,  folded,  twisted  or  bent  out  of  shape.  It  has 
many  cognomens,  one  at  least  being  undeserved,  that 
of  Lousewort,  this  being  applied  because  of  an  early, 
mistaken  belief  of  farmers  that  it  had  insects  that 
infested  sheep  that  fed  upon  its  foliage.  It  is  quite 
commonly  called  Beefsteak  Plant  because  of  the 
color  of  the  upper  lips  of  the  flowers  and  because  the 
leaves  and  stem  are  often  stained  with  a  purplish 
brown. 

The  flowering  stems  are  stout,  hairy  and  leafy; 
they  rise  to  heights  of  6  to  18  inches.  The  leaves  are 
all  fernlike  in  form;  many  of  them  rise  on  long  hairy 
stems  from  the  roots  and  smaller  ones  alternate  up 
the  flower  stalk.  The  flower  spike  is  short  and  dense- 
ly flowered  and  contains  many  small  bract-like  leaves 
among  the  tubular  flowers.  The  corolla  is  composed 
of  two  lips,  the  upper  one  being  arched  and  strongly 
curved  or  hooked  at  the  tip ;  four  stamens  are  gather- 
ed under  the  shelter  of  the  upper  lip  and  a  slender 
pistil  projects  through  and  beyond  a  small 
tooth  or  notch  in  the  end  of  it;  the  lower  lip  is  short- 
er, three-lobed  and  yellowish  in  coloV.  The  upper  lip 
varies  from  a  yellowish  green  in  freshly  opened  flow- 
ers to  a  dull  reddish  on  the  mature  blossoms,  this 
latter  being  the  beefsteak  color  alluded  to  in  one  of 
its  common  names. 

Wood  Betony  is  found  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Manito- 
ba and  southwards.  It  is  quite  abundant  throughout 
its  range  and  its  flowers  may  be  found  from  early  in 
May  to  the  latter  part  of  July. 


A.     BEECH   DROPS. 

Epifagus  virginiana. 

B.     BROOM-RAPE. 

Orobanche  uniflora. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         319 

BROOM-RAPE  FAMILY  (Orobanchaceae). 

The  members  of  this  family  are  typical  parasites, 
destitute  of  green  foliage  and  practically  colorless. 

BEECH  DROPS;  CANCER-ROOT  (Epifagus  vir- 
giniana).  This  peculiar  growth  is  found  almost  ex- 
clusively in  beech  woods.  At  first  glance  it  might 
readily  be  taken  for  a  little  group  of  twigs  projecting 
above  the  ground.  The  stalk  is  tough,  brownish, 
erect  and  has  several  erect  branches  at  the  top.  Along 
the  lower  part  of  the  stem  are  a  few  scale-like  bracts 
that  represent  the  best  the  plant  can  do  in  the  way  of 
leaves. 

The  stems  attains  heights  of  6  to  20  inches.  At  the 
ends  of  the  branches  are  a  number  of  curved,  tubular 
flowers;  these  are  stained  a  dull  magenta.  While 
they  are  perfect  in  all  their  parts,  they  are  usually  in- 
fertile. Just  below  the  tubular  blossoms  are  a  num- 
ber of  tiny  ones  resembling  buds.  These  are  cleis- 
togamous  flowers  that  never  open,  but  are  fertilized 
without  external  agency. 

Beech  Drops  attaches  its  roots  to  those  of  beech 
trees  and  gets  all  its  sustenance  from  them.  It  blooms 
from  August  to  Oct.  and  ranges  from  N.  B.  to  Minn, 
and  southwards 

ONE-FLOWERED  CANCER-ROOT;  BROOM-RAPE 
(Orobanche  uniflora)  is  an  attractive  little  parasite 
with  a  subterannean  scaly  stem,  that  sometimes 
branches  underground,  each  branch  sending  up  one 
to  four  very  slender  stalks  from  3  to  6  inches  high 
and  bearing  at  the  top  a  single  blossom  each. 

These  terminal  flowers  are  tubular  and  have  five 
rounded  lobes.  Their  color  varies  from  a  pale  pur- 
ple to  a  cream  color  and  they  average  about  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  in  length.  They  are  chiefly  fer- 
tilized by  small  flies,  attracted  by  the  slight  fragrance 
they  emit.  It  is  found  in  moist  woods  throughout  the 
United  States  and  southern  Canada. 


TRUMPET  CREEPER. 
Tecoma  radicans. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         321 

BIGNONIA    FAMILY    (Bignoniaceae.) 

A  small  family  of  woody  plants  having  two-parted 
calyces  and  tubular,  five-lobed  corollas,  the  lobes 
somewhat  irregular,  the  lower  one  usually  being 
the  largest. 

TRUMPET  CREEPER  (Tecoma  radicans)  is  an  ex- 
ceedingly beautiful  woody  vine  having  a  southern  dis- 
position, in  fact  all  the  members  of  this  family  are 
rather  tropical  in  their  habits. 

Audubon  in  his  plate  of  the  Ruby-throated  Hum- 
mingbirds shows  them  about  a  cluster  of  flowers  of 
this  vine.  His  choice  was  well  made  for  it  is  one  of 
the  favorites  with  these  tiny  birds.  I  have  spent 
hours,  in  Virginia,  in  watching  these  beautiful  crea- 
tures hovering,  with  whirring  wings,  at  the  door  of 
each  blossom  in  turn.  In  order  to  reach  the  nectar 
at  the  base  of  the  long  tube  he  has  to  force  himself 
well  into  the  flower  so  that  it  conceals  his  head  and 
shoulders. 

The  stem  of  this  species  grows  from  20  to  40  feet 
long  and  is  either  prostrate  or  climbing.  Sometimes 
it  extends  over  the  ground,  climbing  over  the  bushes 
that  may  be  in  its  path,  and  again  it  may  take  an  up- 
ward course  and  climb  the  .trunks  and  branches  of 
small  trees.  As  it  is  a  hardy  plant  it  is  often  seen  in 
cultivation  and  is  used  to  decorate  porches  in  the 
North. 

The  flowers  are  trumpet-shaped,  red  within  and 
tawny  or  orange  on  the  outside  of  the  tube.  They 
grow  in  terminal  clusters  of  two  to  nine  blossoms, 
each  in  a  cup-shaped,  two-parted  calyx.  The  corolla 
is  about  2%  inches  long  and  flares  into  five  rounded 
lobes.  Four  anther-bearing  stamens  and  a  pistil  are 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  tube.  The  leaves  grow  op- 
positely on  the  stem  and  are  each  composed  of  7  to 
11  ovate,  toothed  leaflets.  We  find  this  vine  from  N. 
J.  to  la.  and  southwards. 

21 


A.  COMMON  PLANTAIN. 
Plantago  major. 

B.  ENGLISH  PLANTAIN. 
Plantago  lanceolata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         323 

PLANTAIN    FAMILY    (Plantaginaceae). 

A  small  family  of  despised  weeds  with  coarse  tooth- 
less leaves  clustered  at  the  root  and  tiny  flowers  on  a 
coarse  spike. 

ENGLISH  PLANTAIN  (Plantago  lanceolata)  is  one 
of  the  most  common  flowering  weeds  about  dooryards 
everywhere.  It  is  only  because  of  its  very  abundance 
that  it  has  been  given  a  place  in  this  volume,  certain- 
ly not  because  of  its  beauty  for  it  is  one  of  our  most 
inconspicuous  weeds  in  flower.  It  is  regarded  as  a 
pest  by  real  estate  owners  who  take  pride  in  the  ap- 
pearance of  their  yards.  It  is  very  prolific  and  very 
difficult  to  eradicate. 

The  leaves  all  radiate  from  the  base;  they  are  lan- 
ceolate, sharply  pointed  and  set  on  long,  troughed 
stems;  they  are  dark  green  in  color  and  are  strongly 
ribbed  lengthwise. 

The  flower  stem  is  stiff  and  smooth  and  attains 
heights  of  6  to  18  inches.  The  head  is  short  and 
studded  with  tiny,  four-parted,  dull  white  flowers, 
with  long,  slender  stamens  There  are  often  perfect, 
staminate  and  pistillate  flowers  on  the  same  plant.  It 
is  now  as  abundant  in  all  parts  of  our  range  as  it  is 
in  its  native  European  home. 

COMMON  PLANTAIN  (Plantago  major)  is,  like  the 
last,  a  very  familiar  weed  about  ill-kept  dooryards. 
The  leaves  are  larger,  more  spreading  and  not  as 
erect;  they  are  broad-oblong  and  on  long  troughed 
stems  that  radiate  from  the  root. 

The  flower  stalk  rises  to  about  the  same  height  as 
the  last,  but  the  flower  head  is  very  long.  The  tiny 
white  flowers  open  in  circles  about  this  head,  slowly 
making  their  way  towards  the  top  in  their  succession 
of  bloom,  which  lasts  from  June  until  September. 


A.     BLUETS;  INNOCENCE. 

Houstonia  caerulea. 

B.     PARTRIDGE  VINE;  TWINBERRY. 

Mitchella  rep  ens. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         325 

MADDER  FAMILY  (Rublaceae). 

A  large  family  of  shrubs  or  herbs  with  opposite  or 
whorled  leaves  having  entire  edges.  The  flowers  are 
regular,  perfect  and  usually  four-parted,  with  the 
same  number  of  stamens  as  divisions  to  the  corolla. 
The  family  includes  the  Coffee  Plant  and  the  Peruvian 
bark  trees. 

BLUETS;  INNOCENCE  (Houstonia  caerulea). 
These  are  very  dainty  and  beautiful  little  plants  that 
decorate  our  fields  profusely  from  April  until  July. 
They  frequently  grow  in  such  large  patches  that, 
from  a  distance,  the  ground  appears  as  though  cover- 
ed with  snow  of  a  bluish  or  pale  violet  shade.  The 
stems  are  very  slender,  about  3  to  6  inches  tall,  and 
have  a  few  pairs  of  tiny  leaves;  larger  leaves  appear 
in  tufts  from  the  base.  Usually  each  stem  bears  but 
a  single  four-parted  blossom  at  the  top.  The  perianth 
is  slender  and  the  lobes  flare  widely;  the  corolla  is 
about  one  half  inch  in  width-, — white,  with  the  ends 
of  the  lobes  pale  blue  or  violet,  and  stained  with  yel- 
low towards  the  center  of  the  flower.  They  are  cross- 
fertilized  by  small  bees  and  little  butterflies.  The 
species  is  very  abundant  from  N.  S.  to  Manitoba  and 
southwards  to  the  Gulf. 

PARTRIDGEBERRY  (Mitchella  repens)  is  a  most 
beautiful  little  trailing  vine  with  rounded,  opposite, 
white-veined  leaves  along  the  creeping  stem,  that  ex- 
tends 6  to  12  inches  from  the  root.  Two  beautiful 
little  four-parted,  bell-shaped  flowers  terminate  each 
branch.  They  are  downy  white  within,  and  pinkish 
and  smooth  on  the  outside.  They  have  a  fragrance 
similar  to  that  of  the  Water  Lily.  A  double,  red  ber- 
ry replaces  the  flowers  in  the  Pall;  at  this  season,  the 
plants  are  collected  extensively  for  use  in  ferneries, 
as  their  leaves  are  evergreen.  It  is  common  in  woods 
throughout  our  range. 

BEDSTRAWS  (Gallium)  have  weak,  square,  brist- 
ly stems,  tiny  four-parted  flowers  and  whorled  leaves. 


A.     FLY  HONEYSUCKLE. 

Lonicera  canadensis. 

B.     TWIN-FLOWER. 

Linnaea  borealis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         327 

HONEYSUCKLE    FAMILY    (Caprifoliaceae). 

A  family  composed  of  shrubs,  vines  or  herbs  with 
opposite  leaves  and  perfect,  usually  regular  flowers  of 
a  funnel-form. 

FLY  HONEYSUCKLE  (Lonicera  canadensis)  is  a 
bush  or  shrub  with  thin,  straggling,  brown  branches, 
attaining  heights  of  2  to  4  feet.  The  leaves  are  thin, 
light  green,  somewhat  heart-shaped  and  short  stem- 
ed.  They  grow  oppositely  on  the  branches  and  have 
small  stipules  between  them.  The  flowers  are  borne 
in  pairs  from  the  axils  of  the  terminal  leaves.  The 
Naples  yellow  tubes  are  about  three  fourths  of  an 
inch  in  length  and  have  five  lobes.  The  pairs  of 
blossoms  are  joined  to  the  slender  peduncles  with 
exceedingly  short  stems.  After  the  flowering  sea- 
son, two  bright  red  berries,  with  their  bases  touch- 
ing but  not  united,  take  the  places  of  the  pairs  of 
flowers.  This  species  is  common  from  Quebec  to 
Manitoba  and  south  to  Pa.  and  Mich. 

A  similar  species,  the  Mountain  Fly  Honeysuckle 
(L.  caerulea)  has  the  pairs  of  flowers  almost  united 
at  their  bases  and  the  berries  united  into  a  single 
one  with  two  "eyes."  This  is  also  common  in  low 
woods  in  the  same  range. 

TWINFLOWER  (Linnaea  borealis  americana)  is 
one  of  the  most  delicately  beautiful  of  our  wild 
flowers.  The  stem  is  slender,  trailing,  reddish-brown 
and  from  6  to  24  inches  long;  at  intervals  very  slen- 
der, leafy  flower  stalks  rise,  bearing  at  the  end,  two 
pendulous,  bell-shaped,  white,  fragrant  blossoms;  the 
corolla,  which  has  five  lobes,  is  crimson  pink  within. 
The  evergreen  leaves  are  short-stemmed,  almost 
round  and  scallop-toothed.  It  was  a  favorite  plant 
with  Linnaeus  and  is  named  after  him.  It  is  also 
highly  prized  by  all  who  reside  in,  or  visit,  the  sec- 
tions it  frequents.  It  blooms  in  July  and  August  in 
cool  mossy  woods  from  Lab.  to  Minn,  and  south  to 
Pa.  in  the  mountains. 


CORAL  HONEYSUCKLE. 
Lonicera  sempervirens. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         329 

CORAL  OR  TRUMPET  HONEYSUCKLE  (Lonicera 

sempervlrens)  is  a  very  ornamental,  climbing,  woody 
vine  growing  from  8  to  15  feet  in  length.  It  trails 
over  bushes  or  entwines  its  stems  about  the  branches 
of  trees.  It  is  more  slender  and  graceful  than  the 
Trumpet-creeper  and,  while  its  flowers  are  not  as 
large  as  the  latter,  they  are  brightly  colored  so  that 
the  species  is  fully  as  often  seen  in  cultivation  as 
the  Trumpet-creeper.  The  lower  leaves  have  short 
stems,  are  rounded-oval  in  shape  and  opposite,  as 
are  those  of  all  the  members  of  this  family.  The 
leaves  near  the  ends  of  the  branches  are  united  at 
their  bases,  clasping  the  stems  and  forming  cup-shap- 
ed structures.  The  strikingly  colored  flowers  grow 
in  whorls  on  spikes  terminating  the  branches.  The 
tubular  corollas  are  about  two  inches  in  length,  bright 
red  on  the  outside  and  yellow  within;  the  opening  of 
the  corolla  spreads  but  very  little  and  is  five-lobed. 
As  may  be  seen  from  the  picture  on  the  opposite 
page,  this  honeysuckle  flaunts  the  favorite  colors  of 
the  Ruby-throated  Hummingbird  and  is  consequently 
visited  very  often  by  these  birds.  Its  long  slender 
corolla  is  perfectly  adapted  to  the  long  bill  and 
tongue  of  this  smallest  of  our  birds.  In  the  South  the 
leaves  of  the  Coral  Honeysuckle  are  evergreen  but 
in  the  North  they  are  deciduous.  In  the  Fall  where 
each  flower  was  located  during  the  Summer  we  find 
an  orange-red  berry.  These  are  eaten  by  variou^ 
migrating  birds  and  in  this  manner  the  seeds  con- 
tained in  the  berries  are  scattered  over  a  wide  range 
of  territory.  This  is  one  of  Nature's  surest  ways  of 
increasing  the  range  of  a  species  and  adding  to  its 
vitality  by  bringing  it  into  contact  with  the  same  kind 
of  plants  from  widely  separated  localities.  This 
species  is  distributed  from  Conn,  and  Nebr.  south- 
wards. 


f 


A.     BELLFLOWER. 

Campanula  rapunculoides. 

B.     BLUEBELL;  HAREBELL. 

Campanula  rotundifolia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         331 

BLUEBELL  FAMILY   (Campanulaceae). 

A  small  family  of  herbs  with  alternate  leaves  and 
acrid,  usually  milky,  juices.  The  flowers  are  reg- 
ular and  perfect  and  have  a  five-parted,  usually  bell- 
shaped,  corolla. 

BELLFLOWER  (Campanula  rapunculoides(  (EU- 
ROPEAN). This  beautiful  European  species  is  a 
frequent  escape  from  gardens  and  is  quite  firmly  es- 
tablished in  several  localities  in  the  Eastern  States. 
It  is,  of  course,  to  be  met  with  in  the  vicinity  of 
habitations  and  often  alongside  roads.  As  it  is  a 
perennial  its  occurrence  in  the  same  places  may  be 
looked  for  year  after  year. 

The  simple  stems  are  erect  and  quite  tall,  ranging 
from  1  to  3  feet  high.  The  toothed,  lance-shaped 
leaves  alternate  along  the  lower  portion  of  the  stem 
and  the  bell-shaped,  purplish  flowers  are  in  loose 
spikes  on  the  terminal  portions.  They  are  all  in  nod- 
ding positions,  seated  in  five-parted  calyces,  on  slen- 
der pedicels  each  subtended  by  a  small  bract-like 
leaf. 

HAREBELL;  BLUEBELL  (Campanula  rotundifol- 
ia)  is  the  "Blue  Bells  of  Scotland"  so  familiar  to  us 
in  song  and  verse.  It  is  a  very  slender-stemmed 
species  but  very  hardy,  as  attested  by  the  altitudes 
at  which  it  is  found  on  mountains.  It  gets  it  speci- 
fic name,  rotundifolia,  from  the  little  tuft  of  rounded, 
toothed  leaves  that  appear  before  the  flowering  stem, 
and  rarely  last  until  the  flowers  appear.  The  flower- 
ing stems  are  very  slender  and  wiry,  sparsely  set 
with  linear  leaves ;  they  usually  branch  near  the  sum- 
mit, each  division  bearing  a  demure,  drooping,  violet 
bell.  It  is  found  in  bloom  from  June  until  Septem- 
ber in  rocky  or  sandy  places  in  Canada  and  northern 
United  States. 

VENUS'  LOOKING  GLASS  (Specularia  perfoliata) 
is  a  tall,  wand-like  annual  with  rounded,  scallop-edged 
clasping  leaves  and  little  5-parted  blue  flowers  in 
their  axils.  Pound  throughout  the  United  States, 


CARDINAL   FLOWER. 
Lobelia  cardinalis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         333 

LOBELIA    FAMILY    (Lobeliaceae). 

A  small  family  of  herbs  with  acrid,  milky  juices, 
alternate  leaves  and  loosely  spiked,  or  scattered,  ir- 
regular flowers. 

CARDINAL  FLOWER  (Lobelia  cardinalis).  Al- 
though exceedingly  bright  colored,  these  flowers  are 
rightly  classed  as  among  our  most  beautiful  wild 
ones;  they  have  a  grace  of  form  and  a  clearness  of 
color  that  charms  everyone.  They  dispute  with  Os- 
wego  Tea  the  title  of  supremacy  in  the  brilliance  of 
their  scarlet  coloring.  As  might  be  expected  from 
their  color,  they  are  visited  by  and  chiefly  fertilized 
by  the  Ruby-throated  Hummingbird. 

The  simple  stem  grows  to  heights  of  2  to  4  feet 
from  perennial  creeping  rootstalks  that  often  throw 
up  new  plants;  the  stalk  is  hollow  and  rather  closely 
set  with  alternating,  lance-shaped  leaves,  the  lower 
ones  stemmed  and  toothed,  the  upper  ones  clasping 
the  stem  and  nearly  smooth-edged.  The  showy  flow- 
er-spike is  loosely  set  with  bright  red  flowers;  the 
narrow,  tubular  corolla  proceeds  from  a  five-parted 
calyx,  and  ends  in  two  lips,  the  upper  having  two 
erect,  narrow  lobes  and  the  lower  a  broad  three-cleft 
one,  velvety-scarlet;  the  five  stamens  are  united  in  an 
erect  tube.  The  Cardinal  Flower  is  found  in  moist 
ground,  especially  along  brooks,  blooms  in  August 
and  September  and  is  found  from  N.  S.  to  Minn,  and 
southwards. 

GREAT  LIBELIA  (Lobelia  siphilitica)  has  a  sim- 
ple, stout,  hairy  and  leafy  stem  1  to  3  feet  high.  The 
leaves  are  oval,  toothed  and  short-stemmed  and  grad- 
ually decrease  to  the  size  of  bracts  at  the  top  of  the 
stem.  The  light  blue-violet  flowers  appear  in  the 
axils  of  the  upper  leaves.  They  are  nearly  an  inch 
long,  two-lipped,  the  lower  one  having  three  spread- 
ing lobes  and  are  seated  in  rather  large,  rounded 
calyces.  It  is  common  in  low,  moist  ground  from 
Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards;  it  may  be  found  In 
bloom  from  July  until  September. 


A.  SPIKED  LOBELIA. 
Lobelia  spictata. 

B.  INDIAN  TOBACCO. 
Lobelia  inflata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         335 

SPIKED  LOBELIA  (Lobelia  spicata)  is  a  smaller 
flowered  species  having  a  simple  leafy  stem  from 

1  to  4  feet  in  height.     The  leaves  vary  greatly  in 
shape  from  lance-shaped  to  oblong,  and  decrease  in 
size  rapidly  as  they  approach  the  flower  spike.    The 
small,  pale  blue-violet  flowers  are  set  in  short  smooth 
calyces.    The  upper  lip  of  the  corolla  has  two  small 
lobes  and  the  lower  one  is  divided  into  three,  larger, 
spreading  ones.    It  is  commonly  found  in  dry,  sandy 
soil  from  N.  S.  to  Manitoba  and  southwards. 

INDIAN  TOBACCO  (Lobelia  inflata)  is  the  most 
common  of  the  Lobelias;  it  is  found  growing  every- 
where in  either  sandy  or  moist  soil,  in  woods  or  in 
fields.  The  alternating  leaves  are  pointed-oval  and 
sparingly  wavy-toothed;  the  lower  ones  are  quite 
large,  while  the  upper  ones  are  very  small.  The  sim- 
ple stem  is  stout  and  quite  hairy;  it  grows  from  1  to 

2  feet  in  height.     The  little  blue-violet  flowers  are 
barely  one  quarter  inch  long,  each  seated  in  a  large, 
smooth   inflated   calyx.     This   species   of   Lobelia   is 
used  very  freely  in  the  compounding  of  various  medi- 
cines and,  in  one  form  or  another,  is  supposed  to  cure 
a  great  many  of  the  ailments  of  mankind.    The  leaves 
were  used  by  Indians  for  chewing,  but  have  a  very 
nauseating  taste;  they  have  poisonous  properties  and 
will  cause  ill  effects  if  swallowed. 

The  flower  calyces  enlarge  still  more  after  the  cor- 
ollas have  withered  away,  and  form  round  seed  pods 
that  follow  closely  up  the  stem  on  the  heels  of  the 
flowers,  for  the  succession  of  bloom  is  from  the  bot- 
tom of  the  spike  towards  the  top. 

WATER  LOBELIA  (Lobelia  Dortmanna)  is  a 
species  found  on  the  borders  of  ponds  or  even  in  the 
water.  The  flowers  are  similar  to  those  of  the  other 
species,  but  the  leaves  are  thick,  linear  and  in  a  tuft  , 
at  the  base  of  the  hollow  stem.  It  is  quite  common 
from  N.  E.  and  N.  Y.  northwards. 


iflBP^^^H^^HpFx'' 
IK 


A.     BLAZING  STAR. 

Liatris  scariosa. 

B.     IRONWEED. 

Vernonia  noveboracensis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         337 
COMPOSITE  FAMILY  (Compositae). 

TALL  BLAZING  STAR  (Liatris  scariosa)  is  a  tall, 
handsome  perennial  that  throws  up  its  beautiful 
spike  of  blossoms  in  Fall,  together  with  those  of  the 
Asters  and  Golden-rods.  The  plant  usually  grows  in 
dry  situations  and  attains  heights  of  2  to  6  feet.  A 
long  spike  containing  numerous,  quite  large,  flower 
heads  adorns  the  top  of  the  stem.  These  heads, 
which  are  about  %  in.  in  diameter,  have  a  very  dis- 
heveled appearance  for  the  magenta-purple  rays 
emerge  in  all  directions;  they  are  contained  in  a 
large  imbricated  involucre.  The  leaves  are  stiff,  lan- 
ceolate, and  closely  alternated  along  the  stem,  the 
upper,  small  ones,  acting  as  bracts  for  the  flower 
heads. 

The  Blazing  Star  furnishes  another  welcome  color 
to  add  to  the  many  hues  of  the  late  flowers  that  so 
plentifully  bedeck  our  land.  It  is  found  from  Me.  to 
Mich,  and  southwards.  A  more  common  species, 
(Liatris  spicata)  has  smaller  flower  heads,  set  in  a 
longer  spike  and  has  linear  leaves.  It  is  found  from 
Mass,  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

I  RON  WEED  (Veronia  noveboracensis)  is  a  tall  (3 
to  7  feet)  and  smooth-stemmed  member  of  the  Com- 
posite Family.  The  alternating  leaves  are  lanceolate 
and  finely  toothed.  The  flower  heads  are  grouped  in 
flat-topped  clusters.  The  rays  are  slender  and  very 
numerous,  giving  the  heads  the  appearance  of  lit- 
tle thistles.  This  species  blooms  in  August  and  Sep- 
tember, at  which  season  it  is  one  of  the  characteris- 
tic plants  in  moist  ground  near  the  seashore.  Other 
similar  species  are  found  in  the  central  portions  of 
the  country,  notably  V.  altissima,  which  is  common 
from  N.  Y.  to  Mich,  and  southwards. 


A.     JOE  PYE  WEED. 

Eupatorium  purpureum. 

B.     THOROUGHWORT;  BONESET. 

Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 


' 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         33Q 

JOE    PYE    WEED    (Eupatorium    purpureum)    is    a 

very  familiar  and  pretty  species,  found  commonly 
everywhere  along  the  edges  of  swamps,  thickets  or 
about  ponds.  The  simple,  rather  slender,  stem  is 
very  tall,  attaining  heights  of  from  2  to  10  feet. 
The  stem  is  usually  stained  purplish  and  is  set  at 
intervals  with  whorls  of  three  to  six,  rough,  coarsely- 
toothed  leaves;  these  latter  have  short  stems,  rather 
broad  bases  and  are  sharp-pointed.  The  flowers  grow 
in  flat-topped  terminal  clusters.  Each  floret  is  of  a 
rosy  purple  color  and  has  projecting  styles  that  give 
the  flowers  a  very  fuzzy  appearance.  The  color, 
which  is  very  nearly  like  that  of  the  common  Milk- 
weed, causes  many  to  confuse  this  plant  with  that 
species,  although  they  are  very  dissimilar  in  every 
other  respect. 

Each  little  tubular  floret  yields  a  drop  of  nectar 
and  is,  consequently,  highly  appreciated  by  many 
species  of  butterflies  as  well  as  by  bumblebees.  Its 
common  name  is  that  of  a  quack  Indian  doctor  who 
made  frequent  use  of  this  plant  for  the  "cures"  of 
various  ailments. 

Joe  Pye  Weed  is  commonly  found  in  moist  places 
from  Newfoundland  to  Minn,  and  southwards,  flow- 
ering during  August  and  September. 

THOROUGHWORT;    BONESET    (Eupatorium   per- 

foliatum)  is  a  flowering  herb,  dearly  beloved  by  the 
old-fashioned  housewife  and  equally  detested  by  the 
small  boy.  It  was,  and  still  is,  one  of  the  most 
commonly  used  home  remedies  and  doubtless  is  quite 
often  efficacious  in  producing,  or  conducing  to,  cures 
of  colds,  chills,  slight  fevers  etc.  The  stem  is  stout, 
hairy  and  1  to  5  feet  tall.  The  opposite  leaves  are 
perfoliate,  that  is  the  ends  are  joined  together.  It 
is  very  common  in  swamps  or  thickets  everywhere. 


A.     GOLDEN    ASTER. 

Chrysopsis  mariana. 

B.     LANCE-LEAVED  GOLDEN   ASTER. 

Chrysopsis  falcata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         341 

CURVED-LEAVED    GOLDEN    ASTER    (Chrysopsis 

falcata)  is  a  very  beautiful  species  with  a  silvery, 
woolly  stem  4  to  10  inches  high,  closely  crowded 
with  stiff,  linear,  downy,  slightly  recurved  leaves. 
The  golden-yellow  flowers  spread  about  an  inch;  the 
tubular  florets  in  the  center  have  a  brownish  orange 
tinge  but  the  numerous  straps  or  ray-flowers  are  the 
brightest  of  orange-yellow.  This  species  loves  dry 
sandy  soil  and  is  most  abundant  near  the  coast  from 
Cape  Cod  to  the  pine  barrens  of  New  Jersey.  It  may 
be  found  in  bloom  from  the  latter  part  of  July  until 
September. 

GOLDEN  ASTER  (Chrysopsis  mariana)  is,  as  one 
would  judge  from  its  species  name,  very  partial  to 
the  seacoast,  where  it  may  be  found  in  profusion  in 
dry  sandy  places  and  along  roadsides. 

It  is  to  me,  an  even  more  beautiful  species  than  the 
preceding.  It  is  a  larger,  more  rugged  plant,  growing 
from  1  to  2  feet  tall.  The  stem  is  quite  branchy  and 
is  rather  closely  set  with  lance-shaped  stemless,  gray- 
green  leaves.  The  flowers,  however,  are  just  a  trifle 
smaller  than  those  of  the  last  species;  they  grow  in 
rather  loose,  flat-topped  clusters,  each  head  being  on 
a  rather  long,  slightly  sticky  peduncle.  The  tubu- 
lar and  ray  florets  proceed  from  a  bell-shaped  involu- 
cre composed  of  closely  overlapping  bracts,  a  forma- 
tion quite  characteristic  of  members  of  this  family. 
This  species  is  not  as  closely  confined  to  the  im- 
mediate seashore  as  is  the  last  and  may  even  be 
found  in  dry  woods.  Its  period  of  bloom  is  during 
August  and  September  and  it  ranges  from  N.  Y.  and 
Pa.  southwards  to  Pla.  and  La. 

Another  species  (C.  villosa),  with  hairy  stems  and 
leaves,  is  found  on  dry  plains  and  prairies  from  Man- 
itoba southwards  to  the  Gulf. 


w 


A.     WHITE  GOLDEN-ROD;  SILVER-ROD. 

Solidago  bicolor. 

B.     BLUE -STEM  MED   GOLDEN-ROD. 
Solidago  caesia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         343 

GOLDEN-RODS;    Genus    (Solidago). 

The  Genus  Solidago  is  a  very  large  one,  comprising 
more  than  eighty  species.  They  are  the  most  fa- 
miliar and  abundant  of  our  Fall  flowers.  The  flowers 
are  always  in  clusters  and  with  one  exception  they 
are  yellow  or  golden.  The  most  common  forms  have 
a  simple  wand-like  stem  topped  with  a  long  golden 
spike,  readily  suggesting  the  common  name  of  Gol- 
den-rods. 

SILVER-ROD;  WHITE  GOLDEN-ROD  (Solidago 
bicolor)  bears  the  distinction  of  being  the  only  one 
of  our  very  numerous  Golden-rods  that  does  not  have 
golden  flowers.  Those  of  this  species  are  white  or 
cream-colored.  The  stem  is  usually  simple  and  at- 
tains heights  of  from  10  to  30  inches.  It  is  downy 
and  is  rather  closely  set  with  rough,  elliptical,  slight- 
ly toothed  leaves.  The  clusters  of  flower  heads  grow 
in  racemes  from  the  axils  of  the  upper  leaves  or  in 
a  cylindrical  terminal  spike. 

The  cream-yellow  tubular  florets  are  surrounded 
by  from  three  to  twelve  white  rays.  As  a  rule,  the 
flower  heads  are  not  as  closely  crowded  together  as 
in  other  species.  Silver-rod  blooms  during  August 
and  September  on  dry  ground,  frequently  along  road- 
sides or  the  edges  of  woods,  from  N.  B.  to  Minn,  and 
southwards  to  the  Gulf. 

BLUE-STEMMED  GOLDEN-ROD  (Solidago  cae- 
sia)  blooms  during  Sept.  and  Oct.  The  simple  stem 
is  closely  set  with  lanceolate,  toothed  leaves,  and 
from  the  axils  of  those  on  the  upper  half  of  the 
stem,  appear  loose  racemes  of  flowers.  The  heads 
are  rather  larger  than  those  of  most  of  the  Golden- 
rods  and  have  from  three  to  five,  comparatively  long, 
golden  rays  surrounding  the  tubular  florets. 

This  species  has  a  somewhat  bluish  or  purplish 
cast  to  the  stem;  the  arrangement  of  the  flowers, 
from  the  axils  of  the  leaves,  will  serve  best  to  iden- 
tify it  however. 


EARLY  GOLDEN-ROD. 
Solidago  sempervirens. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         345 

EARLY  GOLDEN-ROD  (Solidago  juncea)  is  a  very 
common  species  and  one  of  the  earliest  to  bloom,  be- 
ing found  in  flower  from  July  until  Sept.  The  flowers 
are  in  a  large  graceful  cluster,  composed  of  numer- 
ous racemes,  at  the  summit  of  a  tall,  simple  stem  2 
to  4  feet  high.  The  stem  is  smooth,  angular  and 
usually  a  ruddy  brown.  The  leaves  are  smooth, 
lance-shaped;  the  lower  ones  toothed,  but  the  upper 
with  nearly  even  edges.  The  golden-yellow  flowers 
have  eight  to  ten  rays.  Pound  in  dry  places  from  N. 
B.  to  Sask.  and  southwards. 

SEASIDE  GOLDEN-ROD  (Solidago  sempervirens) 
is  a  common  species  of  the  salt  marshes  from  Me. 
to  Fla.  It  has  a  large,  showy  flower  cluster,  and  the 
flowerheads,  individually,  are  also  quite  large;,  they 
have  7  to  10  rays.  The  lanceolate  leaves  are  tootn- 
less  and  slightly  clasping  at  their  bases.  The  smooth, 
stout  stem  grows  from  2  to  8  feet  tall. 

ROUGH-STEMMED  GOLDEN-ROD  (Solidago  rug- 
osa)  is  a  very  hairy  species,  rough  to  the  touch.  The 
stem  attains  heights  of  1  to  7  feet  and  often  branches 
at  the  top.  The  flower  racemes  spread  in  a  broad 
pyramidal  panicle.  The  pale  golden-yellow  flowers 
have  6  to  9  rays.  The  leaves  are  feather-veined, 
quite  hairy  and  coarsely  toothed.  Common  in  fields 
and  on  the  borders  of  woods  and  thickets  from  New- 
foundland to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

CANADA  GOLDEN-ROD  (Soligado  canadensis)  is 
perhaps  the  most  common  and  the  handsomest  of 
the  genus.  The  flower  cluster  is  very  large  and 
plume-like.  The  leaves  are  thin,  narrowly  lanceolate 
and  finely  toothed.  The  rather  slender  stem  ascends 
to  heights  of  2  to  7  feet.  The  flowerheads  are  rather 
small,  but  are  closely  crowded  on  the  curving  pe- 
duncles. This  is  a  very  common  species  throughout 
our  range. 


w 


LANCE-LEAVED  GOLDEN-ROD. 
Solidago  graminifolia. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         34? 

LANCE-LEAVED  GOLDEN-ROD  (Solidago  grami- 
nifolia).  This  species  differs  greatly  in  appearence 
from  the  usual  form  of  most  of  the  Golden-rods;  in 
fact  the  difference  in  form  is  even  more  pronounced 
than  that  of  the  Blue-stemmed  variety,  and  is  so  great 
that  many  botanists  favor  the  forming  of  a  new 
Genus  for  it.  It  is  a  very  common  species  and  is 
found  everywhere,  either  in  moist  or  dry  situations. 

The  stem  is  simple,  angular  and  slightly  rough;  it 
ascends  2  to  5  feet  and  near  the  summit  sends  up 
many  slender  wiry,  leafy  branches  supporting  flat- 
topped  flower  clusters.  The  flowers  are  crowded 
closely  together  but  are  very  small  and  rather  dull- 
colored;  they  have  12  to  20  minute  rays.  The  leaves 
are  small  and  narrowly  lanceolate;  they  have  three 
to  five  ribs  and  are  toothless  but  have  a  rough  edge. 
It  blooms  from  August  until  October,  very  commonly 
from  N.  S.  to  Sask.  and  southwards  to  N.  J.  and  Mo. 

SLENDER  GOLDEN-ROD  (Solidago  tenuifolia)  is 
a  somewhat  similar  species  with  narrower  leaves, 
linear-lanceolate,  usually  one-ribbed  and  minutely 
dotted.  The  stem  is  smooth  and  more  slender;  it 
grows  from  1  to  3  feet  high.  The  flowers  are  in  a 
flat-topped  cluster,  each  head  having  6  to  12  tiny  rays. 
It  is  found  in  sandy  soil,  chiefly  near  the  coast,  from 
Mass  to  Pla. 

SHOWY  GOLDEN-ROD  (Solidago  speciosa)  is  a 
large  species,  from  3  to  7  feet  tall,  with  a  stout  sim- 
ple stem  and  a  magnificent,  bright  golden-yellow, 
plume-like  head;  the  flowers  are  comparatively  large 
and  have  usually  five  rays.  Readily  distinguished  by 
its  leaves,  the  lower  ones  rather  large,  contracting 
into  a  margined  stem,  gradually  decreasing  in  size  to 
small  lance-shaped  ones  at  the  top  of  the  stem. 


NEW  ENGLAND  ASTER* 
Aster 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         349 

THE  ASTERS.     Genus   (Aster). 

The  members  of  this  genus  are  exceedingly  numer- 
ous in  species.  Collectively  they  greatly  outnumber 
all  the  rest  of  the  family  combined.  They  are  very 
variable;  some  have  large  flower  heads,  others  tiny 
ones;  some  are  quite  tall,  others  barely  rise  above 
the  ground;  some  have  few  flowers  on  a  plant  while 
on  others  they  are  exceedingly  numerous.  Their  col- 
ors are  usually  some  shade  of  purple  or  white.  They 
all  yield  an  abundance  of  nectar  and  are  frequented 
by  numerous  small  bees.  The  tubular  flowers,  those 
on  the  disc,  or  "button",  in  the  center  of  the  flower, 
are  regular  and  perfect;  the  ray  florets  are  pistillate. 

The  flowers  are  so  numerous  and  vary  so  greatly, 
one  type  gradually  merging  into  another,  that  they 
form  a  confusing  Genus.  The  latest  edition  of  Gray's 
Botany  describes  57  species;  we  refer  anyone  to  this 
work  if  they  wish  to  learn  the  specific  name  of  every 
species.  We  will  describe  a  few  of  the  distinct  and 
most  common  types. 

NEW  ENGLAND  ASTER  (Aster  novae-anglae)  is 
one  of  the  largest  of  the  genus,  its  stem  attaining 
heights  of  from  2  to  6  feet;  it  is  also  one  of  the  most 
common  and  most  popular  species. 

The  stem  is  stout,  branched  and  rather  rough. 
The  leaves  are  soft,  hairy,  lance-shaped  and  clasp  the 
stem  by  a  somewhat  heart-shaped  base.  The  flowers 
are  in  a  broad  corymb  at  the  top  of  the  stem.  They 
are  quite  large,  measuring  about  an  inch  across;  the 
30  to  40  narrow  rays  are  of  a  purplish  color,  often 
quite  bright. 

This  species  is  not,  as  might  be  judged  from  its 
name,  a  native  of  New  England,  only,  but  is  common 
from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards,  blooming  from 
August  to  October,  frequenting  dry  ground. 


SMOOTH  ASTER. 
Aster  laevis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         351 

SMOOTH  ASTER  (Aster  laevis)  is  a  handsome 
species  having  a  smooth,  stout  stem,  quite  branching, 
usually  covered  with  a  whitish  bloom  and  growing 
from  2  to  4  feet  high.  The  flowers  are  in  lovely  ter- 
minal clusters,  each  blossom  measuring  about  an 
inch  across;  they  are  usually  light  violet  blue  in 
color,  although  color  is  very  variable  with  all  fhe 
so-called  blue  asters;  each  disk  is  surrounded  by  15 
to  30  rays.  The  leaves  are  nearly  smooth-edged,  lan- 
ceolate, clasping  the  stem  with  a  distinct  heart-shap- 
ed base.  The  Smooth  Aster  is  abundant  from  Me.  to 
Minn,  and  southwards,  growing  in  dry  soil  and  bloom- 
ing in  September  and  October. 

NEW  YORK  ASTER  (Aster  novi-belgii)  is  one  of 
the  very  commonest  of  the  "blue  asters."  The  stalk 
is  slender,  very  branchy  and  grows  from  1  to  3  feet 
in  height.  The  leaves  are  commonly  narrowly  lanceo- 
late but  are  very  variable;  they  slightly  clasp  the 
stem  with  their  bases.  The  numerous  flower  heads 
are  a  trifle  more  than  an  inch  across,  the  yellowish 
center  being  surrounded  by  15  to  24  lilac  or  blue- 
violet  rays.  This  species  abounds  from  Newfound- 
land to  Florida  and  perhaps  west  to  the  Miss.  Valley. 
It  blooms  in  September  and  October. 

PURPLE-STEMMED  ASTER  (Aster  puniceus)  is 
more  widely  distributed  and  perhaps  as  abundant  as 
the  last  species.  It  is  tall  and  branching,  the  stem 
growing  from  2  to  7  feet  in  height.  The  stalk  is 
brownish  purple  and  is  stout  and  rough-hairy.  The 
leaves  are  large,  oval,  with  a  tapering  point,  rough 
above  and  hairy  on  the  midrib  below,  coarsely  but 
sparingly  toothed.  The  flowers  grow  very  profusely 
in  terminal  clusters.  The  centers  are  dull  yellow  and 
the  20  to  24  rays,  light  violet  blue  or  white.  Com- 
mon from  N.  B.  to  Manitoba  and  southwards. 


A.     HEART-LEAVED  ASTER. 

Aster  cordifolius. 

B.     PANICLED  ASTER. 

Aster  paniculatus. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         353 

HEART-LEAVED  ASTER  (Aster  cordifolius)  is  a 
common  species,  readily  identified  by  the  shape  of 
its  leaves  that  are,  the  lower  ones  especially,  heart- 
shaped  and  on  quite  long,  slender,  ciliate  petioles; 
they  are  thin  but  rather  rough  and  are  toothed  on  the 
edge.  The  stalk  is  slender,  branchy  and  grows  from 
1  to  4  feet  high.  The  flowers  are  numerous  but  com- 
paratively small,  about  %  inches  across;  they  have 
brownish  yellow  centers  and  10  to  20  lilac,  or  light- 
er colored  rays.  It  is  a  very  common  species  in  thin 
woods  and  thickets,  or  along  their  edges,  or  road- 
sides. Pound  from  N.  B.  to  Minn,  and  southwards, 
flowering  in  Sept.  and  Oct. 

WAVY-LEAVED  ASTER  (Aster  undulatus)  is  also 
readily  identified  because  its  leaves  have  long,  broad 
stems  that  expand  into  heart-shape  as  they  clasp  the 
stem.  The  stems  are  stiff,  rough  and  1  to  3  feet  tall. 
The  light,  blue-violet  flowers  have  9  to  15  rays.  This 
species  ranges  from  N.  B.,  Ont.  and  Minn  southwards. 

PANICLED  ASTER  (Aster  paniculatus)  is  a  very 
tall,  branching,  slender-stemmed  species,  commonly 
found  in  moist  ground  and  on  the  borders  of  woods  or 
copses.  The  smooth  stalk  attains  heights  of  from  2 
to  8  feet.  At  the  ends  of  the  branches  are  numerous 
flower  heads  about  the  size  of  a  nickel,  loosely  pan- 
icled.  The  leaves  are  long  lance-shaped,  nearly 
smooth,  obscurely,  or  not  at  all,  toothed  and  dark 
green  in  color.  This  is  one  of  the  palest  colored  of 
the  "blue  asters,"  the  flowers  are  very  light  violet 
and  often  white. 

SHOWY  ASTER  (Aster  spectabilis),  a  seaside  spe- 
cies, has  probably,  the  deepest  colored  flowers;  large, 
about  iy2  in.  across,  deep  purplish  violet  and  but  few 
in  number.  Simple  stem  1  to  2  feet  tall  and  rough, 
toothless,  lance-shaped  leaves. 

23 


A.     HEATH  ASTER. 

Aster  ericoides. 

B.     MANY-FLOWERED  ASTER. 

Aster  multiflorus. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         355 

HEATH  ASTER  (Aster  ericoides)  is  also  a  com- 
mon white  aster  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 
Its  many  flowers  are  but  a  little  larger  than  those  of 
the  last.  The  plant  grows  1  to  3  feet  tall  and  has 
many  branches,  each  having  simple,  many-flowered 
stems  racemed  along  their  outer  ends.  All  the  stems, 
even  the  flower  peduncles,  are  set  with  tiny,  health- 
like,  linear  leaves.  In  our  illustration,  the  apparently 
different  size  between  the  flowers  of  this  and  the  last 
species  is  because  the  scale  is  different;  the  present 
one  represents  a  single  flowering  stem,  correspond- 
ing to  one  of  the  several  shown  in  the  other  figure. 
All  the  asters  are  frequented  by  bees,  this  species  is 
a  special  favorite  with  the  honey  bee  and  furnishes 
him  with  a  large  percentage  of  the  nectar  he  secures 
during  the  waning  days  of  his  active  year. 

MANY-FLOWERED  ASTER  (Aster  multiflorus) 
has,  as  its  name  would  lead  one  to  think,  very  many 
flowers,  but  they  are  small,  averaging  less  than  % 
inch  across.  In  fact  most  of  the  white-flowered  spe- 
cies do  have  smaller  flowers  than  the  blue  ones,  but 
what  they  lack  in  size  they  more  than  make  up  in 
numbers.  The  stem  is  slender  but  very  branching, 
making  a  bush-like  plant.  Each  branch  is  terminated 
by  short,  many-flowered  racemes.  Our  illustration 
shows  but  a  tip  of  one  of  the  very  numerous  branches. 
The  leaves  are  tiny,  light  green  and  linear,  smooth- 
edged  but  rough  to  the  touch,  crowded  along  the 
branches  to  their  tips.  This  is  a  common  species 
from  Mass,  to  Minn,  and  southwards,  growing  in  dry 
places  everywhere  and  blooming  from  Sept.  to  Nov. 


A.  ASTER   VIMINEUS. 

B.  STARVED  ASTER. 
Aster  lateriflorus. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         357 

SMALL  WHITE  ASTER  (Aster  vimineus)  is  still 
another  of  the  tiny,  white-flowered  asters.  It  has  a 
tall,  branching  stem  from  2  to  5  feet  high;  the 
branches  nearly  all  leave  the  main  stalk  in  a  hori- 
zontal position.  The  inflorescence  is  chiefly  on  one 
side  of  the  flowering  stems.  This  species  can  usually 
be  identified  by  the  reddish  tinge  to  its  stems.  The 
leaves  are  linear  or  narrowly  lanceolate,  the  larger 
ones  being  obscurely  serrate.  The  flowers  are  tiny, 
smaller  than  any  of  the  preceding,  but  have  from  15 
to  25  narrow  white  rays.  It  grows  in  moist  soil  from 
Me.  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 

STARVED  ASTER  (Aster  lateriflorus)  is  a  much 
branched,  slightly  hairy  species,  common  in  thickets 
and  fields  from  N.  S.  to  'Ontario  and  southwards.  The 
leaves  are  lanceolate  and  taper  to  a  point  at  each 
end;  they  are  rather  rough  and  sharply  serrate  in  the 
middle.  The  plant  has  a  ''starved"  appearance  owing 
to  the  rather  brownish  colored  disc  florets;  the  ray 
florets  are  usually  less  in  number  than  most  of  the 
other  white  species. 

DAISY  FLEABANE  (Erigeron  ramosus)  is  a  com- 
mon aster-like  species  found  blooming  in  fields  from 
June  until  October.  The  stem  is  rough-hairy  and 
grows  1  or  2  feet  tall.  The  leaves  are  also  slightly 
hairy,  smooth-edged,  the  upper  ones  lanceolate,  the 
lower  rather  spatulate  in  shape  tapering  into  slender 
petioles.  The  small,  daisy-like  flowers  grow  in  a 
corymbed  cluster  at  the  top  of  the  stem;  they  are 
about  y2  inch  across,  have  quite  a  broad  disc  of  tubu- 
lar, yellowish  florets  and  very  numerous,  narrow,  ray 
florets;  these  rays  range  from  40  to  80  in  number;  at 
night  they  usually  turn  upwards  so  as  to  partly  en- 
fold the  disc. 


• 


A.     FLAT-TOPPED  WOOD  ASTER. 

Aster  umbellatus. 

B.     SHARP-LEAVED  WOOD  ASTER. 

Aster  acuminatus. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         359 

Aster  umbel latus  is  a  common  species  of  white  as- 
ter found  growing  in  moist  woodland  or  thickets.  It 
has  smooth,  leafy,  branching  stems  from  2  to  6  feet 
tall.  The  leaves  are  lanceolate,  pointed  at  each  end 
and  the  lower  ones  are  serrate. 

The  numerous  flower  heads  are  in  compound  flat- 
topped  corymbs;  the  center,  or  disc  florets,  are  green- 
ish-yellow and  are  surrounded  by  a  few  white  rays, 
usually  less  than  a  dozen.  It  is  a  common  species 
throughout  the  northern  parts  of  the  United  States. 

SHARP-LEAVED  WOOD  ASTER  (Aster  acumina- 
tus)  is  a  low-growing  woodland  aster  with  a  simple, 
rather  zig  zag  stem,  quite  hairy,  growing  from  1  to  3 
feet  in  height.  The  leaves  are  quite  large,  sharply- 
pointed,  sharply  toothed  and  short-stemmed.  A  few 
alternate  along  the  lower  portions  of  the  stem  and  a 
number  are  so  closely  together  as  to  appear  whorled 
about  the  stem,  just  below  the  flowers.  The  flowers 
are  few  in  number,  on  slender  pedicels.  They  have 
few  white  rays  and  a  rather  brownish  center,  giving 
them  a  very  unkempt  appearance  as  compared  to  the 
tidiness  of  most  of  the  asters;  the  rays  are  long, 
narrow,  often  wavy  and  give  the  flower  a  spread  of 
from  1  to  iy2  inches.  It  is  quite  a  common  species 
in  cool  rich  woods  from  Labrador  to  Ontario  and 
south  to  Pa.  and  even  farther  in  the  mountains.  It 
blooms  during  August  and  September. 

Aster  linariifolius  is  a  peculiar,  but  not  uncommon, 
aster  found  in  dry  soil  in  the  northern  parts  of  the 
United  States.  The  stem  is  usually  .simple,  with 
rough-margined,  linear  leaves  and  bears  a  single 
blossoms  at  the  summit;  the  few  rays  are  light  vio- 
let or  white  and  surround  a  brownish  disk  of  tubular 
florets. 


A.     PEARLY  EVERLASTING. 
Anaphalis  margaritacea. 

B.     EVERLASTING. 
Eugnaphalium  decurrens. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         36 1 

PEARLY  EVERLASTING  (Anaphalis  margarit- 
acea)  is  the  largest  flowered  and  the  prettiest  of  the 
everlastings.  It  is  one  of  the  very  few  flowers  that 
will  naturally  preserve  its  color  and  shape  upon  dry- 
ing. Because  of  this  fact,  these  flowers  are  often  pre- 
served for  vases  and  are  used  by  florists  for  the  mak- 
ing of  wreaths.  We  frequently  see  them  dyed  green, 
blue,  red,  yellow,  etc. 

The  stems  are  simple,  quite  stout,  white-woolly, 
leafy  and  6  to  30  inches  in  height.  The  leaves  are 
long  and  narrow,  have  a  smooth  edge,  are  grayish- 
green  above  and  woolly  below,  and  narrow  into  clasp- 
Ing  bases;  they  are  closely  set  around  the  stem  from 
the  base  to  the  flower  cluster. 

The  flowers  are  in  flat-topped  clusters;  each  head 
is  composed  of  many,  pearly-white,  dry,  overlapping 
scales  that  surround  brownish-yellow,  tubular  florets. 
Before  they  have  expanded  they  look  like  large  pearls 
but  after  opening  they  resemble,  somewhat,  miniature 
Water-Lilies.  Staminate  and  pistillate  flowers  grow 
on  different  plants.  When  the  flowers  are  opened, 
we  usually  see  many  varieties  of  small  moths  and 
butterflies  about  them,  as  well  as  small  bees.  These 
are  the  useful  agents  for  cross-fertilization.  This 
Everlasting  is  very  common  on  dry  hillsides,  in  woods 
or  on  recently  cleared  land.  Its  range  extends  from 
N.  S.  to  Manitoba  and  southwards  to  S.  C.  and  Mo. 
It  is  in  full  bloom  from  July  until  September. 

SWEET  EVERLASTING  (Gnaphalium  polycepha- 
lum)  has  a  woolly  stem  and  wavy,  lanceolate,  woolly 
leaves.  The  pearly  flowerheads  are  oval  in  shape; 
they  do  not  expand  until  after  they  have  matured. 
It  is  common  in  pastures  everywhere. 


A.     PRAIRIE  DOCK. 

Silphium  terebinthinaceum. 

B.     COMPASS  PLANT. 

Silphium  laciniatum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the. Rockies          363 

ROSIN-WEED;  COMPASS  PLANT  (Silphium  lacin- 
iatum)  is  a  large,  showy-flowered  plant  found  on  the 
western  prairies.  It  has  a  stout,  rough,  bristly  stem 
that  attains  heights  of  from  three  to  ten  feet.  The 
stem  grows  from  a  perennial  root;  it  exudes  copious, 
resinous  juices.  The  large  leaves  are  pinnately  divid- 
ed, each  division  being  linear  and  cut-lobed;  they  are 
on  long,  broad  petioles  that  spread  into  clasping 
bases. 

The  flower  heads  are  very  large,  measuring  from 
two  to  four  inches  across.  They  are  sessile  or  ex- 
ceedingly short-stemmed,  seated  along  the  upper 
portion  of  the  stout  stem.  Their  arrangement  is 
quite  similar  to  that  of  Chicory,  the  well  known  and 
common  flower  in  the  East.  The  bracts  of  the  in- 
volucre are  long  and  taper  into  spreading  points,  that 
spread  nearly  as  wide  as  the  ray  florets;  the  central, 
tubular  florets  form  a  large,  flat  orange  ."button"  and 
are  surrounded  by  bright  yellow,  notched  rays.  The 
lower  and  root  leaves  are  very  large,  ranging  from 
one  to  three  feet  in  length.  They  are  disposed  to 
present  their  edges  north  and  south.  Compass  plant 
is  found  on  prairies  from  Mich,  to  North  Dakota  and 
southwards;  it  blooms  from  July  until  September. 

PRAIRIE  DOCK  (Silphium  terbinthinaceum  pinnat- 
ifidium),  in  spite  of  its  cumbersome  Latin  name,  is 
rather  an  attractive  plant  that  also  grows  on  prairies 
and  the  edges  of  copses.  The  smooth,  slender  str^p 
ascends  3  to  10  feet  high  and  bears  a  loose  panicle  of 
large,  yellow-rayed  flower  heads.  The  leaves  mostly 
come  from  the  root  and  lower  part  of  the  stem-  they 
are  slender-petioled  and  deeply  pinnatifid.  Found 
from  O,  to  Minn,  and  southwards 


ELECAMPANE. 
Inula  helenium. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         3&5 

ELECAMPANE    (Inula    Helenium)     (EUROPEAN) 

is  a  tall,  stout,  beautiful  member  of  the  composite 
family  that  comes  to  us  from  the  old  world.  It  has 
become  naturalized  and  is  now  common  throughout 
the  eastern  half  of  the  United  States. 

The  stout,  smooth,  usually  unbranched  stalk  grows 
from  2  to  6  feet  in  height  and  is  leafy  throughout.  At 
the  summit  of  the  stem  is  a  single,  or  sometimes  two, 
large  flower  set  on  a  peduncle  from  the  angle  of  the 
upper  leaf.  A  smaller,  flat,  bract-like  leaf  appear 
just  below  the  flower  involucre.  The  head  measures 
two  or  three  inches  across  and  has  a  broad  disc  of 
tubular,  yellow  florets,  these  turning  tan  color  as  they 
age.  The  yellow  rays  are  numerous,  but  very  narrow, 
usually  set  at  different  angles  and  with  some  vacant 
places  so  that  the  flower  has  a  rather  disheveled  ap- 
pearance. 

The  upper  leaves  usually  clasp  the  plant  stem, 
while  the  lower  ones  are  on  petioles.  They  are  broad, 
thick-textured,  toothed  and  pointed;  the  large,  whit- 
ish veins  show  very  prominently;  the  upper  surface 
of  the  leaf  is  rough,  yellowish-green,  while  the  lower 
is  lighter  and  woolly.  They  alternate  quite  closely 
along  the  stem. 

The  leaves  were  formerly  used  by  industrious  coun- 
try housewives  for  the  concoction  of  various  home 
remedies  and  doubtless  proved  effective.  The  roots 
yield  a  mucilaginous  juice  that  was  supposed  to  have 
healing  and  antiseptic  properties.  Bees,  butterflies 
and  small  moths  are  usually  seen  about  the  beautiful 
flower  heads,  and  are  the  chief  agents  for  cross-ferti- 
lization. 


A.     ROBIN'S   PLANTAIN. 

Erigeron  pulchellus. 

B.     PURPLE    CONE    FLOWER. 

Brauneria  purpurea. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         367 

ROBIN'S  PLANTAIN    (Erigeron  pulchellus)  is  one 

of  the  earliest  members  of  the  composite  family  to 
bloom.  In  fact  it  is  often  known  as  the  "Blue  Spring 
Daisy,"  a  name  which  is  very  appropriate  for  it,  much 
more  so  than  the  one  it  commonly  bears.  The  very 
fuzzy,  light  green,  juicy  stalk  attains  heights  of  from 
10  to  24  inches.  Must  of  the  leaves  are  in  a  dense 
rosette  at  the  base  of  the  stalk  they  are  spatulate  in 
shape,  indistinctly  toothed  and  hairy  throughout. 
The  few  stem  leaves  are  small,  hairy  and  clasping  at 
their  bases.  From  one  to  nine  flowers,  an  inch,  or 
slightly  more,  broad  are  grouped  at  the  top  of  the 
stem.  They  are  handsome  blossoms,  resembling  ast- 
ers, but  the  yellowish  centers  of  tubular  florets  are 
broader  and  flatter;  the  lilac  or  violet  rays  are  very 
numerous  and  are  arranged  quite  evenly  around  the 
central  disc. 

Robin's  Plantain  is  a  perennial  with  creeping  root- 
stalks  and  will  be  found  year  after  year  in  the  same 
localities.  It  is  often  communistic  and  found  growing 
in  quite  large  colonies;  it  may  also  be  met  with  sing- 
ly. It  is  common  everywhere,  most  abundant  in 
slightly  moist  soil,  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  south- 
wards, blooming  in  May  and  June. 

PURPLE  CONE  FLOWER  (Brauneria  purpurea)  is 

a  showy  western  species  bearing  a  single,  large  flow- 
er head  with  a  conical  center  of  purple  disc  florets 
and  surrounded  by  many,  large,  notched,  magenta 
rays.  The  stiff,  hairy  stem  rises  2  to  3  feet  high. 
The  leaves,  also  stiff -hairy,  alternate  along  it;  the 
upper  ones  are  toothless  and  seated  on  the  stem, 
while  the  lower  ones  are  sharply  toothed;  they  are 
five-ribbed  and  deep  green  in  color.  Rich  soil,  IN.  Y 
to  Mich,  and  southwards. 


% 


BLACK-EYED  SUSAN;  CONE  FLOWER. 
Rudbeckia  hirta. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         369 

BLACK-EYED  SUSAN;  YELLOW  DAISY;  CONE 
FLOWER  (Rudbeckia  hirta)  is  a  beautiful,  large- 
flowered,  tough-stemmed  species  that  is  commonly 
found  in  dry  fields  and  pastures  throughout  the  East, 
although  it  is,  by  nativity,  a  western  species. 

The  stem  is  hairy,  rough,  very  tough  and  grows 
from  1  to  3  feet  in  height;  usually  it  is  simple  but 
sometimes  tufted,  that  is  two  or  more  stems  may  pro- 
ceed from  a  single  root.  Single,  large  flowers  are 
borne  at  the  summit  of  each  stem. 

The  involucre  is  composed  of  two  rows  of  leaf-like 
bracts  that  spread  as  the  flower  opens,  the  outer  ones 
extending  almost  as  widely  as  the  rays.  The  conical, 
dark  purple  center  is  composed  of  long,  tubular  flor- 
ets that  ripen  in  successive  circles  about  the  cone, 
making  a  fringe  of  yellow  pollen  on  its  surface.  The 
orange-yellow  rays  are  neutral,  with  neither  stamens 
nor  pistils.  They  have  their  uses,  however,  for  they 
present  a  flaming  advertisement  to  all  passing  bees 
and  butterflies,  of  the  stores  of  nectar  and  pollen  to 
be  reaped  from  the  florets  at  the  center.  The  tubes 
are  long  and  the  nectar  is  seated  at  the  bottom,  so 
it  is  only  insects  with  long,  slender  tongues  that  are 
enabled  to  taste  of  the  sweets. 

The  leaves,  scattered  alternately  along  the  stem, 
are  also  stiff  and  hairy;  they  have  three  prominent 
ribs.  The  upper  ones  are  lanceolate  and  seated  on 
the  stem,  the  lower  ones  are  broader  towards  the  tip, 
rather  spatulate-shaped.  The  plant  stem  is  so  rigid 
and  tough  that  it  is  difficult  to  pick  the  flowers  with- 
out pulling  up  the  entire  stem.  This  should  be  care- 
fully avoided,  for  the  roots  are  perennial  and  plants 
will  spring  up  year  after  year  if  they  are  undisturbed. 


TALL  CONE  FLOWER. 
Rudbeckia  laciniata. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         3^1 

TALL  CONE-FLOWER   (Rudbeckia  laciniata)   is  a 

tall,  lanky  member  of  this  genus,  with  an  entirely  dif- 
ferent temperament  from  that  of  the  Blackeyed  Su- 
son.  No  hot,  sandy  or  dusty  fields  for  this,  but  the 
cool  depths  of  moist  thickets.  As  usual  with  vegeta- 
tion in  moist,  rich  soil,  its  growth  is  luxuriant.  The 
smooth,  branching  stem  ascends  to  heights  of  3  to  10 
feet  and  is  leafy  throughout.  Ordinarily,  the  plant 
does  not  grow  more  than  five  feet  in  height;  those 
that  exceed  this  height  might  be  termed  giants  of  the 
species.  The  lower  leaves  are  very  large,  are  on  long 
petioles  and  are  cleft  into  five  or  seven  divisions;  the 
lower  and  middle  stem  leaves  are  usually  three-part- 
ed while  the  upper  ones,  or  at  least,  the  ones  nearest 
the  flowers  are  small  and  elliptical. 

Several  large  flower  heads  terminate  the  branches; 
they  measure  from  2  to  4  inches  across.  The  central 
disc  is,  at  first,  hemispherical  and  green  but  finally 
becomes  elongated  and  brownish.  The  rays  number 
six  to  12  and  are  bright  yellow  in  color.  This  species 
blooms  from  July  until  Sept.  and  is  found  from  Me.  to 
Manitoba  and  southwards. 

Rudbeckia  triloba  is  a  hairy  biennial  with  slender, 
spreading  branches,  at  the  ends  of  which  are  num- 
erous, comparatively  small,  but  showy,  flower  heads. 
The  central  disc  is  hemispherical,  composed  of 
brownish-purple  florets.  The  rays  are  golden-yellow, 
brightest  near  the  disc.  The  leaves  are  bright  green, 
thin,  rough,  the  upper  ones  being  lance-shaped  and 
the  lower  one  three-lobed;  all  are  rather  coarsely 
toothed.  Common  in  rich  soil  from  N.  J.  to  Minn, 
and  southwards. 


TEN-PETALLED  SUNFLOWER. 
Helianthus  decapetalus. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         373 

TEN-PETALLED    SUNFLOWER     (Helianthus    de- 

capetalous.)  This  is  a  slender  stemmed,  graceful, 
showy-flowered  Sunflower,  common  in  damp  woods 
and  on  the  borders  of  thickets,  from  Me.,  Quebec  and 
Minn,  southwards.  The  branching  stem  grows  from 

2  to  5  feet  tall;   it  is  slightly  hairy-rough  on  the  up- 
per portions  but  smooth  below.     The  leaves  are  thin, 
rather  rough-broad  lance-shaped,  short-stemmed  and 
grow   oppositely  on  the  stem;    they  are  all  sharply 
saw-toothed.     The  showy  flowers,  growing  on  slend- 
er peduncles  from  the  ends  of  the  branches,  are  2  to 

3  inches  across.     Though  often  with  ten  rays,  they 
just  as  frequently  have  any  number  from  8  to  15. 

COMMON  SUNFLOWER  (Helianthus  annuus)  is 
the  common  garden  sunflower  that  often  has  such 
enormous  heads.  The  normal,  wild  plant  is  common 
from  Minn,  to  Texas  and  westward.  The  flower 
heads  range  from  three  to  six  inches  in  diameter;  it 
is  only  the  cutlivated  variety,  produced  from  this, 
that  has  the  mammoth  heads  we  often  see.  It  has 
been  introduced  into  most  civilized  countries  and 
furnishes  many  staple  articles  of  commerce.  It  prob- 
ably reaches  its  greatest  development  in  point  of 
size  in  Russia,  the  seeds  from  plants  grown  in  that . 
country  being  more  than  double  in  size  of  any  pro- 
duced in  the  United  States. 

In  its  wild  state  the  plant  only  grows  from  three 
to  six  feet  tall.  Its  name  is  due,  not  only  to  its  sun- 
like  face.,  but  also  to  the  fact  that  the  flowers  usual- 
ly face  the  sun,  turning  their  heads  slowly  so  as  to 
follow  it  around  the  horizon.  Their  period  of  bloom 
is  from  July  until  Sept..  This  species  may  readily 
be  recognized  by  the  large,  alternately,  three-ribbed, 
rough,  toothed  leaves. 


JERUSALEM  ARTICHOKE. 
Helianthus  tuberosus. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         375 

JERUSALEM  ARTICHOKE  (Helianthus  tubero- 
sus)  is,  like  the  Common  Sunflower,  a  valuable  spe- 
cies, and  one  that  is  often  cultivated  because  of  its 
edible  roots,  these  being  tender  and  of  good  flavor; 
they  are  eaten  raw  or  cooked.  Their  value  as  articles 
of  food  was  first  discovered  by  Indians  and  by  them 
imparted  to  our  early  colonists.  The  name  Jerusa- 
lem, in  connection  with  this  plant,  is  a  corruption 
from  the  name  applied  to  the  species  by  Italians,  (Gir- 
asole  Articocco),  meaning  sunflower  artichoke. 

It  is  a  handsome  plant,  the  stout,  leafy,  hairy  stalk 
growing  from  3  to  12  feet  tall  and  being  topped  with 
several  large  showy  flowers.  The  large,  three-vein- 
ed leaves  are  hairy  and  have  toothed  margins.  They 
are  chiefly  set  oppositely  on  the  stem,  although  some 
of  the  upper  ones  may  alternate.  The  several  flower 
heads  are  large,  measuring  up  to  three  inches  across. 
The  central  florets  are  greenish  yellow  and  are  sur- 
rounded by  from  12  to  24  long,  golden-yellow  rays. 

This  species  is  often  also  known  as  the  Canada 
Potato  and  the  Earth  Apple.  Its  range  extends  from 
southern  Canada  southwards  nearly  to  the  Gulf. 

TALL  or  GIANT  SUNFLOWER  (Helianthus  gigan- 

teus)  is  a  very  tall  species  with  a  rough,  ruddy  stem 
from  2  to  10  feet  tall,  growing  from  perennial  creep- 
ing, tuberous  roots.  The  leaves  are  rather  coarse, 
rough,  bright  green,  toothed,  nearly  stemless  and 
usually  alternating  along  the  stem.  The  stem 
branches  at  the  summit  and  bears  several  large  flow- 
er heads  from  2  to  3  inches  across.  The  yellowish- 
green  disc  is  surrounded  by  from  10  to  20  neutral, 
golden  rays.  The  Tall  Sunflower  is  common  in 
swamps  and  on  the  borders  of  wet  woods  from  New 
England  to  Minn,  and  southwards. 


A. 


\ 


r 


T 


,:  ^  »*^  •  *  -  .••* 
A.     BEGGAR  TICKS. 

Bidens  frondosa. 

B.     LARGE  BUR-MARIGOLD. 

Bidens  laevis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         377 

BEGGAR-TICKS;  STICK-TIGHT  {Bidens  frondosa) 
is  a  plant  familiar,  to  their  sorrow,  to  all  who  roam 
the  woods  and  fields  during  Pall.  Who  has  not  had 
the  pleasant  task  of  sitting  down  and,  one  by  one,  re- 
moving the  little  two-hooked,  black  seeds  that  hang 
so  closely  to  clothing.  These  little  hooked  seedpods 
are  not  designed  for  the  adornment  of  the  plant,  nor 
for  the  purpose  of  annoying  human  beings,  but  serve 
a  very  important  purpose,  just  like  the  plumed  seeds 
of  the  milkweed,  but  they  travel  in  a  different  man- 
ner. Of  course  they  were  originally  designed  to  be 
carried  from  place  to  place  on  the  hairy  coats  of  our 
wild  animals  but  man  often  serves  their  purpose  even 
better  than  beasts. 

Beggar-ticks,  in  appearance,  is  an  uninteresting 
weed  common  everywhere  in  moist  ground  or  along 
roadsides.  The  stem  is  very  branching  and  is  from 
1  to  8  feet  tall.  The  leaves  are  compounded  of  three 
to  five,  sharply  toothed,  lance-shaped  leaflets.  The 
flower  heads  are  composed  of  tubular  brownish-yellow 
florets,  sometimes  with  no  surrounding  rays  and  again 
with  a  few,  tiny,  short  ones. 

LARGER  BUR-MARIGOLD;  BROOK  SUNFLOW- 
ER (Bidens  laevis)  is  a  very  attractive  species  while 
it  is  in  flower,  but  later,  after  the  little  seeds  have 
formed,  it  has  the  same  disagreeable  traits  common 
to  all  the  members  of  the  genus;  the  seeds  have  the 
same  two  little  teeth  (bidens)  and  stick  just  as  close- 
ly as  those  of  their  more  homely  relatives.  The  flow- 
ers of  this  species  are  1  to  2  in.  across,  having  8  or 
10  large,  yellow,  neutral  rays  surrounding  the  dull- 
colored  disc  florets.  The  stem  is  slender  and  branch- 
ing, the  leaves  lance-shaped  and  toothed.  Common  in 
swamps  and  along  brooks. 


A.     OX-EYE  DAISY;  WHITE  DAISY. 
Chrysanthemum   leucanthemum. 

B.      FEVERFEW. 
Chrysanthemum  parthenium. 


Wild  Flowers'  East  of  the  Rockies         379 

COMMON  WHITE  DAISY;  OX-EYE  DAISY  (Chry- 
santhemum leucanthemum)  (EUROPEAN)  is  a  nat- 
uralized, floral  citizen.  It  is  so  common  and  has  be- 
come so  wide-spread  that  it  is  even  better  known 
than  most  of  our  common  native  flowers.  It  is  a  very 
beautiful  species  in  the  eyes  of  all  not  engaged  in 
pursuits  agricultural,  but  to  the  farmer  it  is  a  pest 
that  must  be  exterminated  if  he  would  make  hay.  It 
grows  in  such  profusion  and  multiplies  so  rapidly 
that  it  often  forms  a  snow-white,  floral  carpet  over 
whole  fields.  They  furnish  beautiful  bouquets  for 
the  home  and  much  amusement  for  the  children.  I 
wonder  how  many  of  the  lassies,  who  read  these  lines, 
fail  to  remember  the  old  ditty: — "Rich  man,  poor 
man,  etc."  and  the  shorter  one  supposed  to  conclu- 
sively prove  or  disprove  the  affection  of  someone. 

This  daisy  needs  no  description.  We  have  two 
very  similar  kinds  differing  in  the  shape  of  the  leaves 
one  being  more  pinnatifid  than  the  other.  The  one 
shown  on  the  opposite  page  is  the  most  common,  a 
variety  of  Leucanthemum  called  (pinnatifidum).  The 
other  variety  has  the  ends  of  the  leaves  rounded  and 
finely  toothed  but  not  cut  or  slashed. 

FEVERFEW  (Chrysanthemum  Parthenium)  (EURO- 
PEAN) is  found  in  some  places  in  the  East  as  an  es- 
cape from  gardens.  The  stem  grows  from  1  to  2  feet 
tall  and  is  quite  branching.  The  flowers  are  grouped 
in  clusters;  they  are  much  smaller  than  those  of  the 
last  species  and  have  a  comparatively  broader  disc 
of  yellow  florets.  The  leaves  are  broad,  deeply  pin- 
natifid and  each  division  further  toothed  or  cut.  It 
is  locally  naturalized  from  Mass  to  N.  J.  and  west- 
wards. It  blooms  from  June  until  Sept.,  the  same  as 
does  the  last  species. 


A.     YARROW. 

Achillea  mille folium. 

B.     MAYWEED;  CHAMOMILE. 

Anthemis  cotula. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         381 

YARROW;    MILFOIL  (Achillea  Millefolium)  is  one 

of  the  most  common  of  our  wayside  weeds.  Its  gen- 
eric name  is  applied  because  the  mighty  Achilles 
formerly  used  an  Old  World  yarrow  for  healing  the 
wounds  of  his  soldiers.  The  leaves  and  their  juices 
are  still  used  in  this  and  other  countries  in  medicinal 
remedies  and  for  their  healing  properties. 

The  stem  is  stout,  gray-green  usually  simple,  or 
forking  near  the  top.  The  leaves,  alternating  along 
and  clasping  the  stem,  are  soft  and  feathery, — deeply 
and  finely  bipinnatifid. 

The  flowers  grow  in  very  compact,  flat-topped  clus- 
ters at  the  top  of  the  stem.  Each  flower  head  has  a 
center  of  short,  tubular,  yellowish  florets  that  turn 
brown  or  grayish  as  they  grow  old;  they  are  sur- 
rounded by  from  four  to  six  round,  white  rays.  In 
some  localities  these  ray  florets,  that,  by  the  way,  are 
pistillate,  vary  in  color  through  pink  to  a  deep  crim- 
son. This  latter  color  is  most  apt  to  occur  near  the 
seacoast.  I  have  met  with  it  most  frequently  on 
Cape  Cod. 

Yarrow  is  a  very  hardy  plant;  we  may  find  it 
thriving  beside  roads  where  the  dust  has  killed  near- 
ly every  other  living  thing.  Its  leaves  have  a  strong, 
not  unpleasant,  aromatic  odor. 

MAYWEED;  CHAMOMILE  (Anthemis  Cotula) 
(EUROPEAN)  is  also  a  common  weed  found  by  the 
wayside  in  company  with  the  last  species.  The  stem 
is  very  branchy,  8  to  20  inches  high.  The  leaves  are 
very  finely  divided.  The  strong,  unpleasant  odor  of 
the  foliage  will  at  once  correct  the  impression  that  it 
may  be  a  daisy.  The  flowers  are  very  similar  to 
those  of  the  common  White  Daisy  except  for  their 
smaller  size.  Very  common  about  dwellings  and 
along  roadsides  -everywhere. 


A.     SNEEZEWEED. 
Helenium  autumnale. 

B.     TANSY. 
Tanacetum  vulgare. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         383 

SNEEZEWEED  (Helenium  autumnale)  is  a  beauti- 
ful, rather  odd,  plant  that  brightens  meadows  and 
swamps  during  August  and  Sept.  The  stem  is  rather 
stout,  smooth  and  branching;  it  ascends  from  2  to  6 
feet.  Alternating  along  the  stem,  are  numerous 
ovate,  pointed,  sharply-toothed,  bright  green  leaves, — 
short-stemmed  and  strongly  veined. 

It  is  the  blossoms  that  attract  our  attention  for, 
besides  being  very  handsome,  they  are  unusual  in 
form.  The  hemispherical  center  is  composed  of  close- 
ly packed  tubular  florets  and  is  surrounded  by  a  num- 
be:  of  broad,  toothed,  golden-yellow  rays;  the  heads 
lu,ve  an  expanse  of  1  to  2  inches.  Both  the  tubular 
and  the  yellow,  pistillate  rays  are  fertile.  The  flow- 
ers are  frequented  by  numbers  of  various  kinds  of 
bees  and  many  small  butterflies.  The  disc  florets 
secrete  an  abundance  of  nectar  in  their  tubes. 

Although  this  plant  has  little  odor,  the  foliage  is 
very  bitter  and  cattle  soon  learn  to  avoid  the  leaves. 
Sneezeweed  or  "Swamp  Sunflower"  is  common  along 
brooks,  river  banks  and  in  wet  ground  generally, 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific. 

TANSY;  BITTER  BUTTONS  (Tanacetum  vulgare) 
(EUROPEAN)  is  one  of  those  lusty,  foreign  plants 
that  take  so  kindly  to  our  soil  and  climate  that  they 
try  to  over-run  the  country.  This  species  is  abundant 
everywhere  about  houses  and  along  roads,  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  is  gradually  ex- 
tending its  range  towards  the  Pacific. 

The  foliage  is  very  bitter  and  is  the  foundation  of 
many  an  old  fashioned  remedy.  The  flowers  grow  in 
flat-topped  clusters  and  are  composed  of  round  discs, 
or  "buttons,"  of  tubular  florets  only.  It  is  a  species 
not  to  be  mistaken;  it  has  an  appearance,  an  odor 
and  a  taste  of  its  own.  It  blooms  from  July  until  the 
end  of  September. 


A.     GOLDEN  RAGWORT. 
Senecio  aureus. 
B.     ARNICA. 
Arnica  mollis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         385 

GOLDEN  RAGWORT  (Senecio  aureus)..  As  the 
blue  asters  have  a  similar  representative,  early  in  the 
year,  in  the  form  of  Robin's  Plantain,  so  the  yellow 
asters  or  sunflowers  have  theirs,  too,  in  this  species. 
In  latter  March  and  early  April,  Ragwort  shows  simp- 
ly a  tuft  of  stemmed,  heart-shaped  leaves,  resembling 
those  of  violets.  A  little  later  a  stem  ascends  from 
the  perennial  root;  a  slender,  tough,  angular,  twist- 
ing stem  that  finally  reaches  heights  of  1  to  3  feet; 
a  single  stem,  or  two  or  three,  may  rise  from  the 
same  root.  During  May  and  June,  they  carry  at  their 
summit  a  loose  cluster  of  bright,  orange-yellow  flow- 
ers. These  are  deeper  colored  than  most  of  the  Fall 
asters,  in  fact  they  are  almost  the  same  shade  as  the 
rays  of  the  common  Cone  Flower.  Each  flower  is 
composed  of  but  8  to  12  narrow,  orange-yellow  rays, 
surrounding  a  central  cluster  of  tubular  florets  of  a 
brownish-orange  color. 

The  stem  leaves  are  chiefly  sessile;  they  are  ob- 
long in  shape  but  deeply  cut  or  pinnatifid,  the  termin- 
al section  being  less  so  than  the  basal  half.  Rag- 
wort grows  most  abundantly  and  most  luxuriantly  in 
swamps  or  moist  ground,  but  is  also  found  in  dry 
places  or  stony  pastures.  Its  range  extends  from 
Newfoundland  to  Wisconsin  and  southwards  to  Va. 
and  Mo. 

ARNICA  (Arnica  mollis)  is  a  northern  plant  with 
large,  delicate,  pure  yellow,  daisy-like  flowers.  Its 
slightly  hairy  stem  grows  from  1  to  2  feet  tall.  The 
basal  leaves  are  long-petioled  but  the  stem  ones  are 
sessile  and  opposite,  shallow-toothed.  At  the  summit 
are  one  to  nine  flower  heads  on  slender  peduncles. 
About  the  central  disc  are  10  to  14  yellow  rays,  each 
with  three  notches  in  their  ends.  Found  in  Canada 
and  the  mountains  of  northern  U.  S. 


25 


BURDOCKS 
Arctium  minus. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         387 

BURDOCK    (Arctium    minus)    (EUROPEAN)    is    a 

very  common  plant  on  waste  ground,  along  roadsides 
and  the  edges  of  woods.  The  plant  is  often  four 
feet  or  more  high.  The  lower  leaves  are  very  large, 
often  more  than  a  foot  in  length,  heart-shaped,  deep 
green  and  finely  veined  above,  greyish  beneath  be- 
cause of  the  fine  wool  that  covers  the  under  sur- 
faces. The  upper  leaves  are  smaller,  more  ovate  in 
form  and  less  densely  woolly  on  the  undersides. 
The  flowerheads  grow  in  clusters  at  the  ends  of  the 
branches.  The  involucre  is  almost  spherical, — com- 
posed of  numerous  bracts,  each  terminating  in  a 
sharp,  hooked  point.  Tubular  florets,  only,  are  seat- 
ed within  this  involucre;  they  are  purple  and  white 
in  color,  and  secrete  an  abundance  of  nectar,  on 
which  account  they  are  frequented  by  honey  bees. 

We  have  seen  how  the  Milkweed  attaches  to  each 
of  its  seeds,  a  little  parachute  so  it  may  fly  away  on 
the  winds  and  found  new  colonies  at  a  distance  from 
the  parent  plants.  We  have  also  seen  how  the  Beg- 
gar-tick and  members  of  the  Genus  (Bidens)  disperse 
their  seeds  by  attaching  them  to  the  hair  of  animals 
or  the  clothing  of  man.  The  present  species  adopts 
the  policy  of  the  Beggar-ticks,  but  instead  of  single 
seeds,  it  attaches  the  whole  bur-like  head  by  means 
of  its  numerous  little  hooks.  They  cling  tenaciously 
to  everything  they  touch;  doubtless  most  of  my  read- 
ers recall  massing  these  burs  together  to  make  cas- 
tles, funny  men,  animals,  etc. 

We  have  two  species  of  this  plant,  — the  present, 
and  one  slightly  larger  and  with  coarser  leaves,  (A. 
Lappa).  Both  of  them  are  immigrants  from  across 
the  water. 


CANADA  THISTLE. 
Cirsium  arvense. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         389 

CANADA  THISTLE  (Cirsium  arvense)  (EURO- 
PEAN) is  a  small  flowered,  perennial  species  that  has 
strayed  across  the  ocean  and  became  a  pernicious 
weed.  Individual  plants  are  not  themselves  any 
more  of  a  pest  than  are  our  native  thistles  but  they 
have  a  dangerous,  latent  or  potential  power,  in  that 
they  are  far  more  prolific  than  our  native  species, 
due  perhaps  more  to  the  number  of  the  flowering 
heads  than  to  any  physical  qualities  of  the  plant. 

The  stem  is  rather  slender,  branching  and  grows 
from  1  to  3  feet  in  height.  It  grows  from  a  perennial, 
creeping  rootstalk  that  is,  as  farmers  have  discover- 
ed, very  difficult  to  eradicate  from  the  soil.  It  grows 
in  extensive  colonies  and,  unless  strenuous  efforts 
are  made  to  destroy  them,  they  very  soon  take  pos- 
session of  a  field  to  the  exclusion  of  almost  every- 
thing else. 

The  leaves,  that  grow  alternately  and  closely  to- 
gether on  the  stem,  are  long,  lance-shaped,  deeply 
cut  into  sharply-prickled  lobes.  Numerous  flower 
heads,  about  one  inch  across,  terminate  the  branches. 
When  in  full  bloom,  the  florets  vary  in  color  from 
rose-purple  to  white;  the  involucre  is  almost  globu- 
lar and  covered  with  over-lapping  bracts,  each  with 
a  tiny,  sharp,  out-turned  point. 

All  the  thistles  yield  an  abundance  of  nectar  and 
are  frequented  by  bees  and  butterflies,  by  one  of  the 
latter  so  persistently  that  it  has  been  named  the 
Thistle  Butterfly  or  Painted  Lady  (Pyrameis  cardui) ; 
in  fact  this  butterfly  usually  begins  its  career,  as  a 
caterpillar,  on  the  thistle  and  lives  chiefly  upon  its 
nectar  and  pollen  through  life. 


PASTURE  THISTLE. 
Cirsium  pumilum^ 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         391 

PASTURE  THISTLE  (Cirsium  pumilum)  is  the 
thistle  that  we  most  often  see  in  fields  and  pastures. 
It  is  one  of  the  largest  of  the  genus,  its  heads  often 
measuring  three  inches  across.  The  stem  is  stout 
and  simple,  and  grows  from  1  to  3  feet  high;  it  is 
hairy  and  angular  in  section  and  grows  from  a  bien- 
nial rootstalk. 

The  flower  heads  are  very  large,  two  to  three  and 
one-half  inches  across  and  usually  solitary,  although 
frequently  two  heads  grow  on  the  same  stalk.  The 
leaves  are  lance-shaped,  green,  clasping,  rather  hairy, 
pinnatifid  and  armed  with  short,  stout  prickles.  Just 
below  the  flowers  are  several  small  bract-like  leaves, 
also  armed  with  sharp  prickles.  All  this  armor  tends 
to  discourage  pilfering  insects  from  crawling  up  the 
stem;  should  they  persist  and  reach  the  large  invol- 
ucre, which  is  also  armed,  they  will  find  that,  in  addi- 
tion, it  is  slightly  sticky,  and  presents  an  impenetr- 
able barrier  to  their  upward  progress.  This  species 
is  common  from  Me.  to  Del.  and  Pa.  It  blooms  from 
July  until  Sept. 

COMMON  or  BULL  THISTLE  (Cirsium  lanceola- 
tum),  although  an  introduced  species  has  a  larger 
range  than  the  last.  It  is  common  in  fields  and  pas- 
tures and  along  roadsides  from  Newfoundland  to  Ga. 
and  west  to  Nebr.  Its  heads  are  only  slightly  smaller 
than  those  of  the  preceding;  usually  but  one  is  found 
on  a  plant.  The  stout  stem  grows  from  2  to  4  feet 
high.  The  leaves  are  rough  and  bristly  above  and 
woolly  underneath. 

Although  thistles  may  be  foes  to  those  following 
agricultural  callings,  they  are  staunch  friends  of 
birds  and  insects  (except  crawling  ones).  The  plant 
fibres  and  down  from  the  mature  heads  forms  the 
principal  part  in  the  composition  of  nests  of  the  Gold- 
finch. 


A.     STAR  THISTLE. 

Centaurea  Scabiosa. 

B.     CHICORY;  SUCCORY. 

Cichorium  intybus. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         393 

STAR   THISTLE    (Centaurea   nigra,   var.    radiata). 

This  is  a  slender-stemmed  plant  with  a  small,  this- 
tle-like head  but  with  none  of  the  other  characteris- 
tics of  the  true  thistles. 

The  slender  stem  branches  slightly  and  rises  to 
heights  of  1  to  2  feet,  each  branch  bearing  a  solitary 
flower  head  at  the  end.  The  flower  head  has  a  round 
involucre  of  tawny,  or  dark  brown,  dry  bracts;  the 
florets  are  all  tubular  and  rose-purple,  the  outer  ones 
being  rather  larger  and  spreading  horizontally. 
The  whole  head  has  a  loose  tousled  appearance. 
Rather  small,  oblanceolate  leaves  alternate  along  the 
stem,  from  the  base  to  the  flower  heads. 

This  species,  which  is  introduced  from  Europe, 
grows  in  waste  places  and  along  roadsides  from  N. 
S.  to  Ontario  and  south  to  N.  J.  and  Pa.  It  may  be 
found  in  bloom  from  July  until  Sept. 

CHICORY;  SUCCORY  (Cichorium  intybus)  (EURO- 
PEAN) has  become  thoroughly  naturalized  and  is 
common  in  the  eastern  half  of  the  United  States,  es- 
pecially so  near  the  coast.  It  is  a  perennial  so  there 
is  little  danger  of  its  losing  ground  in  any  locality  in 
which  it  becomes  established. 

The  stem  is  stiff,  tough  and  angular  in  cross-sec- 
tion; it  attains  heights  of  from  1  to  3  feet.  It  is  of- 
ten quite  branching  but  the  branches  spring  out 
abruptly  so  that  the  effect  is  not  very  graceful.  The 
leaves  are  long-lanceolate,  dark  gray-green  and 
coarsely  toothed.  The  flowers  are  very  beautiful, — a 
violet-blue,  approaching  a  pure  blue  in  color.  There 
are  at  least  two  ranks  of  strap-shaped  rays,  the  inner 
ones  much  shorter,  all  toothed  at  the  ends.  Suc- 
cory blooms  in  dry  situations  from  July  until  Oct. 


A.     FALL  DANDELION. 

Leontodon  autumnalis. 

B.     DWARF  DANDELION;  CYNTHIA. 

Krigia  virginica. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         395 

FALL  DANDELION  (Leontodon  autumnalis)  (EU- 
ROPEAN) is  a  small  dandelion,  naturalized  from  Eu- 
rope and  common  in  the  Eastern  States  during  Fall, 
or  from  the  latter  part  of  July.  The  leaves,  tufted 
at. the  base  of  the  flower  scape,  are  long  and  narrow 
and  have  blunt  teeth.  The  flower  scape  is  long  and 
slender  and  usually  forks  near  the  summit,  bearing 
two  or  three  flower  heads,  rarely  only  one;  the  scape 
attains  heights  of  7  to  18  inches.  The  upper  parts  of 
the  stem  are  covered  with  minute,  scaly  bracts  set 
at  intervals  of  perhaps  every  half  inch.  The  flower 
stalk  is  not  hollow  like  that  of  the  common  dande- 
lion, but  is  solid.  The  flower  heads  are  large  and 
showy,  composed  of  numerous,  golden-yellow,  toothed, 
strap-shaped  rays,  set  in  a  small  involucre,  scarcely 
imbricated  but  with  several  bractlets  at  the  base.  It 
grows  in  fields  and  along  roadsides  and  is  quite  com- 
mon from  Newfoundland  to  Mich,  and  south  to  Pa. 

DWARF  DANDELION;  CYNTHIA  (Krigia  virgin- 
ica)  is  a  tiny  little  plant  as  compared  to  the  common 
dandelion.  The  leaves  are  all  basal  on  rather  long 
petioles;  they  are  coarsely  and  sharply,  or  lacinately, 
toothed.  Numerous  unbranching,  slender  flower 
scapes  rise  from  these  tufts  of  basal  leaves,  each 
bearing  at  the  summit  a  little  golden-rayed  flower  re- 
sembling a  miniature  dandelion.  When  the  flower 
heads  have  matured,  the  scape  lengthens  and  fluffy 
parachutes,  each  attached  to  tiny  seed,  form  into 
filmy  globes  that  takes  the  places  of  the  flowers  until 
the  winds  bear  them  away  to  new  fields. 

Cynthia  is  a  very  common  native  species  and  is 
found  blooming  from  April  until  July  in  dry  fields, 
open  woods  or  sandy  soil,  from  southern  Canada  to 
the  Gulf. 


A.     COMMON  DANDELION. 

Taraxacum  officinale. 

B.      RED-SEEDED  DANDELION. 

Taraxwum  erythrospermum. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         397 

COMMON  DANDELION  (Taraxacum  officinale)  al- 
though an  immigrant  to  our  land,  has  extended  its 
range  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and  is  as  well, 
or  better,  known  as  any  other  wild  flower  that  we 
have.  As  everyone  knows,  its  green,  jagged  leaves 
form  a  staple  article  of  food  and  can  be  purchased 
in  markets  in  Spring  at  so  much  per  peck.  This  spe- 
cies, with  its  large,  flat  rosette  of  leaves  and  bright 
sunny  flowers  needs  no  description;  it  is  well  shown 
on  the  accompanying  plate.  All  parts  contain  a  bitter 
milky  juice  that  exudes  freely  whenever  the  plant  is 
broken.  It  is  most  interesting  to  children  when  the 
flowers  have  gone  to  seed  and  are  replaced  by  the 
round  fluffy  heads.  Many  childish  games  and  fan- 
cies depend  upon  the  number  of  seeds  left  in  the  "puff 
ball"  after  a  good  strong  "blow."  The  stems,  slit 
at  the  ends,  make  little  horns  and  are  also  used  for, 
drinking  purposes  and  for  ''blowing  soap  bubbles." 

Those  who  try  to  keep  a  lawn  in  condition,  regard 
the  dandelion  as  a  great  pest.  Its  persistence  is 
shown,  when  we  may  find  the  flowers  sunnily  smiling 
at  us,  the  day  after  the  grass  has  been  cut  as  close- 
ly as  possible  with  a  mower.  The  dandelion  blooms 
most  abundantly  during  the  Spring  months  but  may 
also  be  found  during  every  other  month,  even  in  Win- 
ter. The  name  dandelion,  of  course,  refers  to  the 
jagged  edge  of  the  leaves. 

RED-SEEDED  DANDELION  (Taraxacum  erythros- 
permum)  is  a  smaller  species,  also  European,  with 
more  deeply  cut  leaves,  (pinnatifid),  and  with  reddish- 
brown  seeds,  whereas  those  of  the  preceding  spec- 
ies are  usually  olive-green.  Common  in  dry  fields 
from  Me.  to  Pa.  and  westward  to  the  Mississippi. 


A.     Sow  THISTLE. 

Sonchus  oleraceus. 
B.     WILD  LETTUCE. 
Lactuca  canadensis. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         399 

SOW  THISTLE  (Sonchus  oleraceus)  (EURO- 
PEAN) is  still  another  of  the  unwelcome  weeds  that 
has  come  across  the  water  and  made  itself  at  home 
here.  Unfortunately  the  government  can  establish 
no  immigration  bureau  that  can  successfully  keep 
out  undesirable  plant  immigrants,  for  their  seeds 
come  over  with  all  kinds  of  grain  and  are  sown  with 
them.  Practically  all  foreign  plants  get  their  start 
in  cultivated  fields  or  as  escapes  from  flower  gardens. 
This  species  is  not  a  real  thistle  at  all  and  the  name 
"Sow"  is  applied  rather  as  a  term  of  derision,  signi- 
fying spurious  or  worthless.  The  specific  name,  Son- 
chus, is  from  the  Greek  signifying  hollow,  because 
the  stem  of  this  species  is  hollow. 

The  stem  is  stout,  smooth,  grooved,  hollow  and  suc- 
culent; it  attains  heights  of  1  to  6  feet.  The  leaves 
are  shaped  more  like  those  of  the  dandelion  than  a 
thistle,  but  are  armed  with  soft  spikes.  The  small, 
thistle-like  flower  heads  are  light  yellow;  they  grow 
in  loose  clusters,  terminating  the  branches. 

WILD  LETTUCE  (Lactuca  canadensis)  is  one  of 
the  rankest-growing  of  our  native  plants.  The  milky- 
juiced,  branching,  smooth  stem  ranges  in  height  from 
3  to  10  feet.  The  leaves  are  all  very  angular,  cut, 
toothed  and  gouged  in  all  manner  of  forms.  Those 
near  the  base  of  the  stem  are  very  large,  often  attain- 
ing lengths  of  more  than  a  foot.  They  become  small- 
er and  less  deeply  lobed  as  they  mount  the  stem,  the 
upper,  small  ones  being  almost  entire-edged.  The 
small,  yellow-rayed  flowers  are  numerous  but  unin- 
teresting. At  maturity  they  are  succeeded  by  silky 
beards  of  down,  proceeding  from  the  deep-vase-like 
involucres. 


A.      RATTLESNAKE-WEED. 

Hieracium  venosum. 

B.     CANADA   HAWK-WEED. 

Hieracium  canadense. 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         401 

RATTLESNAKE-WEED  (Hieracium  venosum)  is 
commonly  found  in  dry  sandy  places  and  in  open 
woods.  It  can  readily  be  recognized  by  the  tuft  of 
spatulate  leaves  spreading  from  the  root,  each  leaf 
having  strong  veinings  of  purple.  A  fertile  imagin- 
ation likens  these  veinings  to  the  tongues  of  rattle- 
snakes,— hence  the  common  name. 

A  solitary  stem,  branching  slightly  at  the  top, 
grows  from  the  center  of  the  tuft  of  leaves.  It  is 
without  foliage,  save  for  a  few  small,  bract-like 
leaves.  The  flower  heads  are  composed  of  bright, 
golden-yellow  rays  seated  in  a  rather  deep  involucre; 
they  resemble  little  dandelions  but  the  rays  are  few- 
er in  number,  giving  a  more  open  construction  to 
the  flower.  Rattlesnake-weed  blooms  from  June  until 
September  and  ranges  from  Me.  to  Minn,  and  south- 
wards to  Ga. 

CANADA  HAWKWEED  (Hieracium  canadense)  is 
a  smooth,  slender,  leafy-stemmed  species.  Besides 
the  large,  spreading,  basal  ones,  the  stem  is  alter- 
nately set  with  stemless,  lance-shaped,  sharply- 
toothed,  light  green  leaves.  The  flowers  are  practi- 
cally like  those  of  the  last  species.  In  October,  they 
are  replaced  by  little  brownish  globes  of  down.  Can- 
ada Hawkweed  is  common  on  the  borders  of  woods 
from  Newfoundland  to  British  Columbia  south  to  N. 
J.,  Mich,  and  Oregon.  It  blooms  from  July  until  Sep- 
tember. 

TAWNY  HAWKWEED  (Hieracium  aurantiacum) 
(EUROPEAN)  can  always  be  recognized  by  the  taw- 
ny-orange color  of  its  flowers,  the  general  hairiness 
of  the  stem  and  the  basal  tuft  of  lanceolate,  hairy 
leaves;  but.  two  or  three  tiny  leaves  claps  the  flower 
stalk.  The  flowers  are  closely  clustered  on  short 
hairy  peduncles.  It  is  common  in  fields,  woodland 
and  along  roadsides  from  N.  S.  to  Quebec  and  south 
to  Pa.,  flowering  from  July  until  September. 

26 


402          Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies 


KEY  TO   FLOWERS   BY  COLOR- 

The  flowers  are  grouped  under  their  most  conspic- 
uous colors,  the  ones  the  novice  would  be  most  apt 
to  call  them.  As  far  as  possible  the  smallest  flowers 
are  placed  first  in  each  section. 

WHITE  AS  THE  CHIEF   FLOWER-COLOR. 

False    Spikenard. — -Tiny;    clustered 49 

False  Solomon's  Seal. — 3  leaves  on  stalk 51 

Meadow  Rue. — Filmy  cluster;   3-lobed  leaves 123 

Sundew. — Raceme;  leaves  hairy,  basal 147 

Saxifrage. — Cluster;   5  petals;   basal  leaves 149 

Mitrewort. — Raceme;   5  petals,  crystal-like 151 

Foam  Flower. — Feathery  spike;    leaves  basal...  151 

Meadowsweet. — Spire-like  cluster  153 

White  Clover. — Triple  leaves;  round  heads 175 

Ginseng. — Umbel;  3  compound  leaves 227 

Wild  Carrot— Flat  cluster;   divided  leaves 229 

Catnip. — Small  clusters;    aromatic 293 

Rattlesnake  Plantain. — Tubular,  spiked   95 

Ladies'  Tresses. — Spiral  spike  ;T  tubular 95 

Checkerberry. — Tubular,  pendent;   evergreen 247 

Partridge  Berry. — In  pairs,  4-lobed 325 

Violet. — 5  petals,  lower  large,  veined 215 

Star-of-Bethlehem. — Umbel;   grasslike  leaves....  67 

Dutchman's  Breeches. — 2  sac-like  spurs 139 

Squirrel  Corn. — Tubular,  heart-shaped 139 

Tooth  wort. — 4  petals ;   2   compound  leaves 141 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         403 

Star  Flower. — Above  whorl  of  leaves 259 

Bladder  Campion. — 5  petals;  inflated  calyx 109 

Evening  Lychnis. — 5  notched  petals 109 

Anemone. — 5-6  sepals;  delicate  low  herbs 125 

Pipsissewa. — Cluster;   5  waxy  petals 233 

Shinleaf. — Raceme;    5   waxy  petals    235 

Indian  Pipe. — Cold,  clammy  white;  no  green....  235 

Turtle-head.— Tubular,  2-lipped;    spiked 307 

Cornel. — 4-parted  involucre.     Low  herb 231 

Bloodroot. — Solitary;   6-10  petals  135 

Mandrake. — Solitary;    6  petals;   large  leaves 133 

Fringed  Orchis. — Showy  spike;  lip  fringed 85 

Trillium. — 3  petals,  3  sepals;   3  leaves 65 

Arrow-heads. — Aquatic;   3  petals  23 

Water  Arum. — Aquatic;   large  white  spathe 27 

Grass  of  Parnassus. — 5  petals,  green-veined 149 

Azalea. — Shrub;   tubular,  5  spreading  lobes 237 

Laurel. — Clustered,  Saucer-shaped;   shrub   243 

Atamasco  Lily. — Erect,  6-parted;   solitary 67 

Lady's  Slipper. — Large,  white,  slipper-shaped 77 

Dogwood. — Shrub  or  tree;  4-parted  involucre 231 

Water  Lily. — Floating,  numerous  petals 117 

BLUE  AS  THE  CHIEF  FLOWER-COLOR. 

Bluets.— Tiny,   4-lobed;    white,  blue  -tipped    325 

Toadflax.— Spurred,  hooded,  tiny  lip   305 

Forget-me-not. — 5  petals,  yellow  center   285 

Day  Flower. — 2   petals;    delicate;    spathed 31 

Pickerel-weed — Aquatic;   showy  spike 33 

Mud  Plantain. — Aquatic;    kidney-shaped  leaf 33 

Fringed  Gentian — 4  spreading,  fringed  lobes 267 

Bugloss — Leafy   racemes;    tubular,   5   lobes 287 

Lobelia— Leafy  spike;  3-lobed  lip  335 


404         Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies 


PURPLE  OR  MAGENTA  COLORED  FLOWERS. 

Blue-eyed   grass — 6-parted,   white   center 73 

Sundew. — Raceme;    leaves   thread-like    147 

St.  Johnswort. — Flesh  color,  5  petals   207 

Speedwell — Axillary  racemes,  4  petals   311 

Showy  Orchis — Purple  hood,  white  lip 93 

Fringed  Orchis — Showy  spike;   lips  fringed   87 

Cinquefoil — 5-parted,    calyx    large 159 

Lupine — Pea-like;   8-palmated  leaflets   167 

False  Indigo — Pea-like;  3-palmate  leaflets 167 

Flax — 5  large  petals;   tiny  leaves 183 

Vervain — 5  petals,  tiny;   slender  spikes   289 

Self-heal— Short    stout    spike;     hooded     291 

Skullcap — Spiked;   tubular  with  hood  and  lip...   291 

Ground    Ivy — Prostrate; axillary   flowers    293 

Monkey  Flower — 2  lobed  upper;  3  lobed  lower 309 

Gerardia — Tubular,  5-lobed;   linear  leaves   313 

Hepatica — -6   petals;    3-lobed   leaves;    downy    ....131 

Spiderwort — Small  cluster;    3  petals;   hairy   31 

Violets — 5  petals;   lower  large,  veined   211 

Loosestrife — Showy  spike;    5  long  petals    219 

Milkweeds — Axillary  clusters;   milky  juice   277 

Bittersweet — 5  petals;   yellow  cone  center   299 

Cranesbill — 5   petals;    palmate   leaves    189 

Virgin's  Bower — Large  bell-shaped;   4  sepals 127 

Meadow  Beauty — 4  petals;  long  curved  pistil 221 

Closed    Gentian— Tubular,    closed     271 

Phlox — Corymbed;  5  spreading^petals 283 

Bluebell — Bell-shaped,    5-toothed;     slender 331 

Bellflower — Showy   spike;    5    toothed    corolla    ...331 
Thorn   Apple — Funnel-form;    5-pointed  lobes    301 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         405 

Morning    Glory — Funnel-shaped;     climbing     281 

Blue  Flag — 3  petals;  3  sepals  variegated 71 

Wake-Robin — 3  petals,  3   sepals,  3   leaves    61 

BLUE  OR  MAGENTA  COMPOSITES. 

Iron-weed — Tubular    florets;    clustered    337 

Blazing  Star —    "  "  loose    spike    337 

Joe  Pye  Weed—    "        "     flat  clusters 339 

Burdock —  "       spiny  involucre   387 

Thistles—  "    spiny    leaves    389 

Asters — 'Blue  or  purple  rays  349 

Robin    Plantain — Purple    rays     367 

Chicory — Blue  rays,  notched  at  tip   393 

PINK   AS  THE  CHIEF   FLOWER-COLOR. 

Persicaria — Tiny,   in   slender  spikes    103 

Steeplebush — Steeple-like  cluster   .153 

Red  Clover — Trifoliate;  round  flowerhead 173 

Twinflower — In   pairs;    crimson   inside    ...327 

Dogbane — 5-toothed,  bell-shaped;    spreading 273 

Arbutus — Creeping;    5-parted,  fragrant    247 

Milkwort — Round  scaly  heads;  small  leaves 193 

Fringed  Polygala — 2  wing-like  sepals    191 

Pogonia — Solitary;   broad,  crested  lip   91 

Calopogon — Several;    fringed   lip   at   top    89 

Arethusa — Solitary;  broad  crested  lip;  erect 89 

Bouncing  Bet — 5-parted,  deeply  lobed   Ill 

Spring  Beauty — 5-parted;    grass-like  leaves    115 

Willow  Herb — 4  petals,  slender  pods;  spike 223 

Azalea — Tubular,  5-lobed;   long  stamens;    shrub.. 239 

Laurel — Clustered;    saucer-shaped    245 

Moss  Pink — Creeping;  5  notched  petals  283 

Sabbatia — Large;   10-12  petals;   2  in.  across   265 


406         Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies 

Sea  Pink — 5  petals,  crimson  marks;  showy  ...263 
Rhododendron — 5  petals,  yellow  spots;  shrub  ...241 
Rose  Mallow — 5  petals;  large,  3  in.  across  ....203 

Wild  Rose — 5  large  petals;   spiny  stems   163 

Moccasin  Flower — Large,  slipper-shaped 79 

RED  AS  THE  CONSPICUOUS  FLOWER-COLOR. 

Wood  Lily— Deep  orange-red,  spotted;  erect 41 

Columbine — Pendulous;    5-spurred    129 

Pitcher   Plant — Leaves   hollow    145 

Pimpernel — Coper-red,  5  petals;  sandy  soil  ....259 
Oswego  Tea — Striking,  tubular;  round  heads  ...297 

Painted   Cup — Floral  leaves   scarlet  tipped    315 

Coral   Honeysuckle — Slender,   yellow  within    329 

Cardinal  Flower — Lip  3-lobed;    velvety    333 

ORANGE   AS  THE  CHIEF   FLOWER-COLOR. 

Jewel-weed — Pendent;    pouch-like,  spurred    197 

Butterfly-weed — Terminal  cluster;  brilliant  ....275 
Toadflax — Yellow  spur  and  lip ;  orange  palate  .  . .  305 
Trumpet  Creeper — Large  trumpet-shaped;  vine  ..321 

Turk's  Cap  Lily — Reflexed,  spotted;  leafy 43 

Day  Lily — Erect;    basal,   sword-shaped   leaves    . .   39 

Hawkweed — Rays   in   several   ranks    401 

Dandelions — Rays  in  several  ranks   395 

Tansy — Flat  clusters,  no  rays 383 

Golden-rods— Plume-like   spikes;    5-12   rays    345 

Golden  Aster — Golden  rays;   saftdy  soil   341 

Elecampane — Slender,  yellow  rays;   disc   365 

Sunflowers — Yellow   rays,   large   disc    373 

Coneflower — Orange  rays,  purple  cone  disc 369 

Ragwort — Orange  rays  and  small  disc  385 


Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies         407 


YELLOW  AS  THE  CHIEF  FLOWER-COLOR. 

Golden  Club — Aquatic ;   club-shaped  spike   27 

Hop  Clover — Cylindrical,  scaly  heads 177 

Yellow  Flax — Tiny  flowers;    tiny  leaves   183 

Hudsonia — Tiny   flowers;    scale-like   leaves    209 

Ply  Honeysuckle — Axillary  in  pairs;    tubular   ...327 

Wood  Sorrel — 5  petals;   delicate;   trifoliate    187 

Wild   Indigo — Pea-like,   racemed;    trifoliate    169 

Cinqfoil — 5   petals;    5-palmate   leaflets    157 

Mustard — 4  petals,  slender  pods;   clusters    143 

Celandine — 4  petals,  slender  pods;  orange  juice..  137 

Yellow  Star  Grass — 6  sepals ;   grass-like   69 

Dog-tooth  Violet — Solitary,  6-parted  47 

Clintonia — 6-parted;  3  oval,  basal  leaves 47 

St.  Johnswort — 5  petals,  many  long  stamens    ...205 

Violet — 5  petals;   lower  large,  veined 217 

Loosestrife — Showy  spike;    5  petals,  basal  spot.  .253 

Axillary;  leaves  whorled  in  fours 253 

Myrtle — Creeping;    axillary,   5   petals    255 

Mullein — Long  spike,   5   petals;    woolly 303 

Moth   Mullein — Raceme;    5   large  petals    303 

Fringed  Orchis — Showy  spike;   lip  fringed   83 

Cowslip — 5  shining  petals;  clustered 119 

Buttercup — 5  shining  petals   121 

Partridge  Pea — 5   petals ;    pinnate  leaves    171 

Frostweed — 5   petals;    axillary;    small  leaves    ...209 

Primrose — 4  petals;  coarse  stem  and  leaves 225 

Sundrops — 4  petals;   slender  stem   225 

Foxglove — Tubular,  5-lobed;   leafy  spike   313 

False   Jessamine — 5-lobed;    climbing,   tubular    ...261 
Yellow  Pond  Lily — Aquatic;    floating  leaves   117 


408         Wild  Flowers  East  of  the  Rockies 

Lady's    Slipper — Solitary,    slipper-shaped    75 

Canada  Lily — Pendulous;   leafy  stem   45 

BROWNISH,  GREENISH   OR  INCONSPICUOUS. 

Cat-tails — Cylindrical  brown  heads    19 

Bur-Reeds — Spherical    brown-yellow    heads    21 

Indian  Turnip — Large  striped  spathe   25 

Skunk  Cabbage — Large  spathe  set  on  ground  ...  29 
Solomon's  Seal — In  pairs  from  axils,  greenish  . .  55 
Cucumber-root — 3,  3-parted  spiderlike  flowers ....  59 
Green-fringed  Orchis — Lips  fringed;  spiked  ...  81 

Wild  Ginger— Tubular,  3-lobed;  near  roots 99 

Stone  Clover — Fuzzy  gray  heads;   trifoliate   173 

Ground   Nut — Spherical,   pea-like   clusters    181 

Wood  Betony — 2-lipped;    clustered;    fern-like    317 

Beech  Drops — Resembling  little  twigs   319 


INDEX 

Achillea  millefolium  381 

Aconite  131 

Acontium  uncinatum  131 

Adder's-tongue  47 

Agrimonia  gryposepola  159 

Agrimony 159 

Agrostemma  githago  107 

Aletris  farinosa  59 

Alfalfa  179 

Allium  37 

Amphicarpa  monoica  181 

Anagallis  arvensis  259 

Anaphalis  margaritacea  361 

Anemone  quinquefolia  125 

Rue  : 125 

"  patens 123 

Wood  125 

Anemonella  thalictroides  125 

Anthemis  Cotula  381 

Apios  tuberosa 181 

Apocynum  273 

Aquilegia  canadensis  129 

Aralia  nudicaulis  227 

Arbutus  247 

Arctium  minus  387 

Arethusa 89 

Argemone  mexicana  135 

Arisaema  dracontium 25 

triphyllum  25 


410  Index 

Aristolochia    99 

Arrow-heads     23 

Arnica  mollis   385 

Arrow-heads    23 

Artichoke,   Jerusalem    375 

Arum,    Water    27 

Asclepiadaceae 275 

Asparagus  officinalis    49 

Aster  acuminatus   359 

"     Cordifolius    353 

"     ericoides    355 

"     Golden    341 

"     Heath    ...355 

"     Heart-leaved    353 

"     laevis    351 

"     laterifolius    357 

linarifolius    359 

"     multiflorus    355 

"     New    England    349 

"     New  York   351 

"     Smooth    351 

"     Starved    '. 357 

"     umbellatus 359 

"     vimineus    357 

"     Wood     359 

Avens   161 

Azalea    237 

Baptisia    australis    167 

tinctoria     169 

Bean,  Wild   * 181 

Beard-tongue    307 

Bedstraws   325 

Bee  Balm    297 

Beech   Drops    319 

Beggar-ticks   377 

Belamcanda    71 


Index  411 

Bellflower    331 

Bellwort 35 

Bergamot    : 297 

Betony,   Wood    317 

Bidens  frondosa   377 

laevis     . .  377 

Bignonia    Family    321 

Bindweed,  Hedge   281 

Bitter  Buttons 383 

Bittersweet    299 

Blackberry    155 

Black-eyed  Susan   369 

Blazing    Star    337 

Blood  root 135 

Bluebell    331 

Bluets    325 

Blue-weed    287 

Boneset     339 

Borage   Family    285 

Bouncing    Bet    Ill 

Brassica  nigra   143 

Brauneria  purpurea   367 

Brooklime 311 

Broom-rape    319 

Bugleweed 291 

Bugloss    287 

Bunchberry  231 

Burdock   387 

Bur-Marigold    377 

Bur-Reeds    21 

Butter-and-eggs    305 

Buttercups 121 

Calla   palustris    27 

Calopogon    89 

Caltha   palustris    119 

Calypso  bulbosa    89 


Index 

Camassia  esculenta    39 

Campanula    331 

Campion,  Bladder   109 

Cancer-root    

Cardinal  Flower    333 

Carrion  Flower    57 

Carrot,  Wild 229 

Cassia  Chamaecrista   171 

Castalia  odorata   117 

Castilleja  coccinea   315 

Cat-gut    171 

Catnip     293 

Cat-tails 19 

Celandine     137 

Centaurea  nigra    393 

Cerastium  arvense   105 

Chamaedaphne     249 

Chamomile    381. 

Charlock    143 

Checkerberry    247 

Chelidonium   majus    137 

Chelone   glabra    307 

CMckweed     105 

Chicory     393 

Chimaphila    maculata    233 

umbellata     233 

Chrysanthemum 379 

Chrysopsis   falcata    341 

mariana 341 

Cichorium  Intybus    t 393 

Cinquefoils 157 

Cirsium  arvense    389 

"         pumillum     391 

"         lanceolatum    391 

Claytonia   virginica    115 

Clematis     ...  .   12T 


Index  413 

Clintonia    47 

Clover,  Prairie  169 

Rabbit-foot    173 

Red    173 

White    175 

Yellow    177 

Colic-root     59 

Columbine,  Wild   129 

Comfrey   285 

Commelina  communis   31 

Compass    Plant    * 363 

Coneflowers    371 

Purple     367 

Convallaria  majalis    57 

Convolvulus  sepium   281 

Coptis   trifolia    ' 129 

Cooperia  Drummondii   69 

Corallorrhiza    97 

Coral-root     97 

Corn  Cockle 107 

Cornel     231 

Cornus  florida 231 

"         canadensis     231 

Corpse   Plant    235 

Corydalis    139 

Cow  Herb    Ill 

Cowslip    119 

american    255 

Cow-Lily     117 

Cranesbill    189- 

Crotolaria    sagittalis    169 

Crowfoot  Family   119 

Cucumber-root,   Indian    59 

Cuscuta  Gronovii    281 

Cynoglossum  virginianum    285 

Cypripedium   75 


Index 

Daisy,  Ox-eye  379 

"       White    379 

"       Yellow 369 

Dalibarda  repens 161 

Dandelions,  Common  397 

Fall    395 

Datura  Tatula  301 

Daucus  Carota  229 

Day-flower   31 

Dentaria  diphylla    141 

Diapensia     ." 251 

Dianthis  Armeria   113 

Dicentra  Cucullaria   139 

Dock,  Prairie   363 

Dodder    281 

Dodecatheon  Meadia 255 

Dogbane  :  273 

Dogwood,   Flowering   231- 

Draba  verna  141 

Droscera   rotundifolia    147 

filiformis    147 

Dutchman's  Breeches    139  - 

Echium  vulgare  287 

Eglantine  165 

Elecampane  365 

Epifagus  virginiana  319 

Epigaea  repens  247 

Epilobium  angustifolium  223 

hirsutum  t 223 

Erigeron  pulchellus  367- 

ramosus  357 

Erythronium  .  . . ." 47 

Eupatorium  perfoliatum  339- 

purpureum  339 

Euphorbia  195 

Evening  Primrose 225  - 


Index  415 

Feverfew    379 

Figwort  Family  303 

Flag,  Blue   71- 

Flax 183 

Fleabane,   Daisy    357 

Foam  Flower   151 

Forget-me-not     285  - 

Fragraria  virginiana    155 

Frostweed    209 

Gallium 325 

Garlic,  Wild 37 

Gaultheria  procumbens  247  - 

Gelsemium  sempervirens   261 

Gentian,   Bottle    271 

Closed 271 

Downy    269 

Fringed     267 

Solitary    269 

Gentiana  Andrewsii   271 

crinita     267 

puberula     269 

quincruefolia    269 

Geranium  maculatum 189 

Robertianum 189 

Wild 189   - 

Gerardia,  Purple   313 

"        purpurea    313 

Geum  strictum  161 

Gill-over-the  ground   293 

Ginger,  Wild 99  - 

Ginseng    227 

Gnaphalium  polycephalum   361  -"' 

Goat's  Rue 171 

Golden  Club   27 


416  Index 

Golden-rod,  Blue-stemmed    343 

Canada 345 

"       Early 345 

Lance-leaved  347 

"       White 343 

Goldthread 129 

Grass,  Blue-eyed   73- 

Grass  of  Parnassus    149 

Grass  Pink    89 

Green  Brier    57 

Green  Dragon 25 

Ground    Nut    181 

Ground  Ivy   293 

Habenaria  clavellata   .' 81 

ciliaris    83 

fimbriata    87 

lacera    85 

Hardback 153 

Harebell  331  - 

Hawkweed,  Canada 401 

Heal-all 291 

Hedge  Nettle' 273 

Helenium  autumnale   383 

Helianthemum  canadense .-• 209 

Helianthus  anius 373 

"         decapetalous     373 

tuberosus     375 

Hemerocallis  fulva *> 39 

Hemp,  Indian   ' 273 

Hepatica    131" 

Heteranthera  reniformis 33 

Hibiscus  Moscheutos   201 

Hieracium  canadense    401 

"         venosum  .  401 


Index  417 

Honeysuckle,   Coral    329 

Fly 327 

Swamp    237~ 

Trumpet 329 

Houstonia  caerulea 325 

Hudsonia    209 

Hyacinth,   Wild    39 

Hymenocallis    67 

Hypericum     205 

Hypoxis  hirsuta 69 

Impatiens  biflora  197 

Indian  Paint  Brush 315 

Indian  Pipe   235 

Indian   Tobacco 335 

Indian   Turnip    25 

Indigo,  Blue  false   167 

Wild    169 

Innocence    325 

Inula  Helenium   365 

Iris 71 

Ironweed    337 

Jack-in-the-Pulpit     25  * 

Jeffersonia  diphylla    133 

Jessamine,  Yellow  False 261 

Jewel-weed    197  * 

Job's  Tears   31 

Joe  Pye  Weed 339  - 

Kalmia  angustit'olia    » 245 

11       latifolia     243 

Krigia  virginica 395 

Labrador  Tea 249 

Lactuca  canadense   399 

Ladies'  Tresses   95 " 

27 


418  Index 

Lady's  Slipper,  Pink   79 

Ram's-head    75 

Showy     77 

Yellow    75 

Lady's  Thumb    103 

Laurel,  Mountain 243 

Sheep    245 

Leatherleaf   249 

Ledum  groenlandicum 249 

Leek,  Wild 37 

Leontodon  autumnalis  395 

Leonurus  Cardiaca   295 

Lettuce,  Wild  399 

Liatris  scariosa   337 

Lilium  canadense   45 

philadelphicum 41 

"         superbum 43 

Lily,  Atamasco 67 

Blackberry ' 71 

Cow   117 

Day    39 

Red  Wood   41 

Turk's-cap    43 

Water   : 117 

Lily-of-the-Valley  57 

Limonium  carolinianum   251 

Linaria  canadense    305 

vulgaris    305 

Linnaea  borealis 327 

Linum  virginianum .* 183 

Liparis 97 

Listera  cordata   97 

Liverwort 131 

Lobelia  cardinalis  333 

Great .335 


Index  419 

Lobelia  inflata   335 

spicata 335 

Spiked 335 

Lonicera  canadensis 327 

"         sempervirens    329 

Loosestrife,  Four-leaved   253 

Fringed     257 

Purple 219 

Loosestrife  yellow    253 

Lousewort   317 

Lucerne    179 

Lupine,  Wild 167 

Lupinus  perennis 167 

Lychnis    109 

Lycopsis  arvensis   287 

virginica 291 

Lysimachia   253 

Lythrum  Salicaria 219 

Madder  Family 325 

Mainthemum  canadense   51 

Mallow,  Common 199 

Mush     201 

Rose    203 

Malva    201 

Mandrake     133 

Marigold,  Marsh    119 

Marsh  Rosemary 251 

May  Apple 133 

Mayflower    247 

Canada   51 

Mayweed    381 

Meadow  Beauty 221 

Meadow  Rue 123 

Meadowsweet 153 

Medeola  virginiana 59 

Medicago  sativa 179 


420  Index 

Melilot,   Yellow 177 

Melilotus  officinalis 177 

Mentha  arvensis   295 

piperata    295 

Milfoil     381 

Milkweeds    275 

Milkwort    191 

Mimulus  ringens 309 

Mint  Family   291 

Mitchella  repens   325 

Mitella  nuda   151 

diphylla    151 

Mitreworts     151 

Monarcla  didyma 297 

Moneses    uniflora    235 

Monotropa   Umflora 235 

Moneywort   , 255 

Monkeyflower     309 

Monkshood    131 

Motherwort   295 

Mud  Plantain   33 

Mullein,   Common .  303 

Moth    30'3 

Mustard    143 

Myosotis  scorpiodes                                            285 

Myrtle     255 

Nemastylis   acuta    73 

Nepeta  cataria   293 

hederacea    * 2*93 

Nightshade    7 299 

Nymphaea  advena    117 

Oakesia    35 

Oats,    Wild    35 

Oenothera  biennis    : 225 

fructicosa     225 


Index  421 

Orchis,  Green  Wood 81 

Purple-fringed    87 

Ragged-fringed     - 85 

Round-leaved    83 

Showy     93 

"       spectabilis     93 

"       Yellow-fringed    83 

Orontium  aquaticum                                           27 

Ornithogalum  umbellatus   67 

Orobanche  uniflora , 319 

Oswego  Tea   297 

Oxalis    185 

Painted-cup   315 

Panax  quinquefolium 227 

trifolium     227 

Parnassia  caroliniana    149 

Parsnip,   Water    229 

Pasque  Flower 123 

Peanut,  Wild    181 

Pea,  Partridge   171 

Peducularis  canadensis  317 

Pentesmon     307 

Peppermint     295 

Persicaria    103 

Petalostemum  purpureum    169 

Phlox    283 

Pickerel-weed   33 

Pimpernel    259 

Pink,  Fire 113 

Ground    283 

Indian     259 

Maiden    113 

Marsh   265 

Moss 283 

Mullein 107 

Rose    263 

"       Wild    113 


422  Index 

Pink-root    259 

Pinxter  Flower    239 

Pipsissewa    % 233 

Pipe  Vine    101 

Pipe,  Dutchman's 101 

Pitcher  Plant  145 

>  Plantain,   Common    323 

"       Robin's     367* 

"       Water   119 

Plantago  major   323 

Pogonia    91 

Polygala 191 

Polygonatum 55 

Polygonum  persicaria   103 

Polymonium  Family 283 

Pontederia  cordata 33 

Poppy,   Prickly    135 

Portulaca  oleracea  115 

Potentilla  canadensis    157 

"       palustris     159 

Primrose,  Evening   225 

Prince's  Pine   233 

Prunella  vulgaris 291 

Purslane     115 

Pyrola  elliptica   235 

Pyxie 249 

Ragged  Robin 107 

Ragwort,  Golden  385 

Ranunculus   119 

Rattlebox  169 

Rattlesnake  Plantain 95 

Rattlesnake-weed    401 

Rhexia  virginica  221 


Index  423 

Rhododendron    241 

canadense    239 

maximum     241 

nudiflorum 239 

viscosum    237 

Rhodora   239 

Rosin-weed    363 

Rock-rose 209 

Rosa    Carolina    163 

"     rubiginosa   165 

Rose,  Pasture 163 

"     Sweetbrier 165 

Rubus  allegheniensis 155 

Rudbeckia  hirta    361 

laciniata     371 

Rumex  acetosella   103 

Sabbatia  265 

Sabatia  angularis 263 

"       dodecandra    265 

stellaris    263 

Sagittaria    23 

Sanguinaria  canadensis 175 

Saponaria    . Ill 

Sarracenia  purpurea   145 

Sarsaparilla,  Wild 227 

Saxifraga  virginiensis   149 

Saxifrage,  Early   149 

Scutellaria  intergrifolia 291 

Sea   Lavender    251 

Self-heal 291 

Senecio  aureus 385 

Shinleaf    '235 

Shooting  Star 255 

Silene   latifolia 109 

virginica    113 

Silphium    lacinatum    „ 363 


424  Index 

Silver-rod  343 

Sisyrinchium 73 

Slum  cicutaeiolium  229 

Skullcap  291 

Skunk  Cabbage  29 

Smartweed  103 

Smilacina 49 

Smilax  57 

Snakeroot,  Virginia 101 

Sneezeweed  383 

Snow-on-the-Mountain  195 

Soapwort  Ill 

Solanum  Dulcamara 299 

nigrum  299 

Solidago  bicolor  343 

caesia    343 

canadensis  345 

"  juncea  345 

graminil'olia  347 

Solomon's  Seal,  False  49 

"  True  55 

Sonchus  oleraceus  :>!)!) 

Sorrel,  Sheep  103 

Wood  ' 185 

Sparganium  eurycarpus  21 

Specularia  perfoliata  331 

Speedwell  311 

Spiderwort  jt 31 

Spigelia  marilandica  261 

Spikenard 49 

Si)irea  tomentosa  % 153 

salicifolia  153 

Sj)ring  Beauty  115 

Spurge,  Cypress  195 

Squirrel  Corn  139 

Stachys  palustris  295 


Index  425 

Star  Flower  259 

Star  Grass 59 

"  Yellow  69 

Star-of-Bethlehem  .- 67 

Steeplebush  153 

Steironema  ciliatum 257 

Stellaria  105 

St.  Johnswort,  Common 205 

Marsh  207 

Stitchwort  105 

Strawberry,  Wild  155 

Streptopus  : 53- 

Sundews 147 

Snndrops  225 

Sunflower,  Giant  375 

Common 373 

Ten-petalled  373 

Sweetbrier 165 

Tanacetum  vulgare 383 

Tansy    383 

Taraxacum  officinalis 397 

Tecoma  radicans  321 

Tephrosia  virginiana   171 

Thalictrum  polygamum  .  .  .- 123 

Thistle,    Common    391 

Canada    389 

Sow     399 

Star   393 

Thorn  Apple   301 

Thoroughwort 399 

Tiarella   cordifolia    f 151 

Toadflax 305 

Toothwort    141 

Touch-me-not    197 

Tradescantia  virginiana   31 

Trifolium   173 


426  Index 

Trientalis    americana 259 

Trilliums    61 

Trumpet  Creeper 321 

Turtle-heaJ    307 

Twayblade , 97 

Twin  Flower    327 

Twinleaf    133 

Twisted-stalk    53 

Typha  angustifolia  19 

latif  olia 19 

Uvularia  perfoliata 35 

Venus'  Looking  Glass   33: 

Verbascum    303 

Verbena 289 

Vernonia  noveboracensis   • 337 

Veronica 311 

Vervain    289 

Vetch,  Cow   179 

Vicia  Cracca 179 

Viola  blanda 215 

"         canadensis     

"     cucullata    ^ 21< 

"     lanceolata    " 215 

"     palmata    211 

"     pedata     211 

"     pubescens 217 

Violet,  Bird-foot , 211 

"         Common 212 

Canada 21? 

Dog-toothed 47 

Palmated    

White    21E 

Yellow    211 

Virgin's  Bower 12' 


Index  427 

hitlow  Grass 141 

ild  Mint   295 

illow   Herb 223 

"     Hairy    223 

ntergreen    247 

Spotted 233 

oundwort   .   295 


,f,,RKELEY  LIBRARIES 


